FGF-23 in children with CKD: a new player in the development of CKD-mineral and bone disorder

Disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) lead to specific abnormalities of skeletal homeostasis called CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). These disturbances should be diagnosed and managed appropriately to prevent bone deformities and disturbed growth. Changes in the vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH), and the subsequent alterations in calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) homeostasis are considered responsible for the development of CKD-MBD. Recently, a phosphaturic hormone, the fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), has been reported as a key regulator of P and vitamin D metabolism. A number of recent studies in paediatric populations have documented that the FGF-23 levels are increased early in CKD, before any abnormalities in serum Ca, P or PTH are apparent. The elevated FGF-23 levels result in a negative P balance to maintain P homeostasis, inducing phosphaturia, independently of PTH, and suppressing vitamin D synthesis. Therefore, the bone-kidney-parathyroid endocrine axis mediated by FGF-23 should be a novel therapeutic target in clinical practice, even in early stages of CKD in children.