FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 23; FGF 23

FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 23 (FGF23) IS A MEMBER OF THE FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR (FGF) FAMILY WHICH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF PHOSPHATE AND 1,25-DIHYDROXY VITAMIN D METABOLISM. HIGH SERUM PHOSPHATE (PHOSPHORUS) CONCENTRATIONS STIMULATE FGF23 EXPRESSION AND SECRETION. MEASUREMENT OF FGF23 CAN ASSIST IN DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF DISORDERS OF PHOSPHATE AND BONE METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH EITHER NORMAL OR IMPAIRED RENAL FUNCTION. FGF-23 IS A PROMISING BIOMARKER IN MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD). ELEVATED LEVELS ARE CONSISTENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED ADVERSE OUTCOME AND IS A PREDICTOR OF MORTALITY IN CKD. IT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF CKD AND CORRELATES WELL WITH ESTABLISHED BIOMARKERS OF BOTH CKD AND HEART FAILURE.