Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and α-Klotho Protein Are Associated with Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Non-Dialysis CKD Patients

Abstract

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and α-Klotho protein appear to have an important role in the pathogenesis of CKD-mineral and bone disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of FGF-23 and α-Klotho levels with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with non-dialysis CKD. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study, enrolling participants with non-dialysis CKD from a single center in Greece. At enrollment, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured (mGFR) and plasma levels of carboxyl terminal FGF-23 (cFGF-23) and soluble α-Klotho (sKlotho) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Participants were followed for up to 5 years or until the occurrence of the primary endpoint of initiation of renal replacement therapy or death. Multivariate regression tree analysis was used to identify informative baseline parameters in order to categorize participants. Also, using median values of cFGF-23 and sKlotho, participants were categorized into 4 groups, in whom survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Results: 128 participants were enrolled with a median mGFR of 41.5 mL/min/1.73 m² (IQR = 28.2). Baseline mGFR correlated with cFGF-23 and sKlotho ( r = −0.54 and r = 0.49, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both). cFGF-23 and sKlotho levels correlated negatively ( r = −0.24, p = 0.006). Multivariate regression tree analysis resulted in 3 groups defined by cutoff values of mGFR (60.9 mL/min/1.73 m²) and phosphate (3.7 mg/dL). These groups correlated with CKD stage, cFGF-23, and sKlotho ( p < 0.0001 for all). During a median follow-up of 36 months (IQR = 22), 40 (31.2%) participants reached the primary endpoint (31 initiated renal replacement therapy, 9 died). Survival to primary endpoint differed among the 4 groups formed using median values of both biomarkers, with the low FGF-23/high Klotho and high FGF-23/low Klotho having the longest and shortest survival, respectively. High FGF-23/low Klotho group, compared to the opposite one, had a significantly elevated risk of the primary outcome (HR, 6.8; 95% CI, 2.3–19.6; p = 0.0004). Conclusions: In patients with CKD stages 1–5, the combination of higher cFGF-23 and lower sKlotho levels along with mGFR and serum phosphate was associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The utility of combinations of traditional and novel biomarkers to predict outcomes warrants further study.