ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-23 AND VASCULAR CALCIFICATION IN ATHLETIC PATIENTS: A META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

Objective: In the clinic, athletic patients with chronic kidney disease are often complicated with vascular calcification in the process of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) treatment, and then evolve into cardiovascular events. The increase of FGF-23 is associated with atherosclerosis and abnormal vascular function. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association between FGF-23 and vascular calcification in athletic patients. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EmBae, and the Cochrane library to investigate the relation of FGF-23 and vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients. The heterogeneity was assessed using I-square and Q statistics. Weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in the hemodialysis group and non-hemodialysis group were appropriately pooled. Results: Eleven studies (1144 athletic patients) were included. There was no significant difference in FGF-23 between vascular calcification and non-vascular calcification in athletic patients. No evidence of heterogeneity was existent among the included studies. Conclusion: FGF-23 showed no effect on the progression of vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis.