Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in COVID-19: An Observational Study

Athena Myrou; Theodoros Aslanidis; Keli Makedou; Athanasios Mitsianis; Aikaterini Thisiadou; Paraskevi Karalazou; Georgios Chatzopoulos; Anastasios Papadopoulos; Antonios Kalis; Dimitrios Giagkoulis; Fotios Lezgidis; Christos Savopoulos

doi:10.7759/cureus.42561

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in COVID-19: An Observational Study

Cureus. 2023 Jul 27;15(7):e42561. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42561. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) University Hospital, Thessaloniki, GRC.
² Department of Intensive Care Unit, St. Paul Agios Pavlos General Hospital, Thessaloniki, GRC.
³ Department of Biochemistry, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) University Hospital, Thessaloniki, GRC.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Mpodosakeio General Prefecture Hospital, Ptolemaida, GRC.

Abstract

Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) belongs structurally to the endocrine FGF protein family, which also includes FGF19 and FGF21. In the past decade, FGF23 has emerged as a possible diagnostic, prognostic biomarker, and therapeutic target in several conditions. Data about COVID-19 and FGF23 is still limited, yet they suggest interesting interactions.

Objective: In the present study, the levels of FGF23 were investigated in COVID-19 patients. These levels were also correlated with other inflammatory markers.

Materials and methods: In our prospective observational study, blood samples were collected from 81 patients admitted with COVID-19 (31 males and 50 females). We analyzed the relation of serum FGF23 levels with biochemistry, total blood count, coagulation parameters, and demographic data.

Results: The distribution of FGF23 serum levels according to sex and age (n_28-40=8, n_41-60=28, n_65-75= 25, n₇₅₊=20) was similar. No significant correlation between FGF23 and any other biochemistry, total blood count, and coagulation parameter was revealed in the whole sample. Nevertheless, there was a variation in the results among different age groups.

Conclusion: FGF23 levels seem to vary in symptomatic COVID-19 infection, but well-organized studies with larger numbers of patients in each group are needed to determine any reliable correlation between FGF23 and other laboratory parameters.

Keywords: clinical biomarker; covid-19 infection; fgf23; fibroblast growth factor 23; infection.