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

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

Athena Myrou  1 , Theodoros Aslanidis  2 , Keli Makedou  3 , Athanasios Mitsianis  4 , Aikaterini Thisiadou  1 , Paraskevi Karalazou  1 , Georgios Chatzopoulos  1 , Anastasios Papadopoulos  1 , Antonios Kalis  4 , Dimitrios Giagkoulis  4 , Fotios Lezgidis  4 , Christos Savopoulos  1
Affiliations

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

Athena Myrou et al. Cureus. .

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 (n28-40=8, n41-60=28, n65-75= 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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Distribution of FGF23 in male (blue) and female (pink) patients
Figure 2
Figure 2. Distribution of FGF23 in patients younger than 40 (light blue), 40-60 (green), 61-75 (red), and 75+ (yellow) years old
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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