PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

Coexistence of low vitamin D and high fibroblast growth factor-23 plasma levels predicts an adverse outcome in patients with coronary artery disease.

  • José Tuñón,
  • Carmen Cristóbal,
  • Nieves Tarín,
  • Álvaro Aceña,
  • María Luisa González-Casaus,
  • Ana Huelmos,
  • Joaquín Alonso,
  • Óscar Lorenzo,
  • Emilio González-Parra,
  • Ignacio Mahíllo-Fernández,
  • Ana María Pello,
  • Rocío Carda,
  • Jerónimo Farré,
  • Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo,
  • Lorenzo López-Bescós,
  • Jesús Egido

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095402
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 4
p. e95402

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are related with cardiovascular disorders. We have investigated the relationship of calcidiol (vitamin D metabolite) and FGF-23 plasma levels with the incidence of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: Prospective follow-up study of 704 outpatients, attending the departments of Cardiology of four hospitals in Spain, 6-12 months after an acute coronary event. Baseline calcidiol, FGF-23, parathormone, and phosphate plasma levels were assessed. The outcome was the development of acute ischemic events (any acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or transient ischemic attack), heart failure, or death. Cox regression adjusted for the main confounders was performed. RESULTS: Calcidiol levels showed a moderate-severe decrease in 57.3% of cases. Parathormone, FGF-23, and phosphate levels were increased in 30.0%, 11.5% and 0.9% of patients, respectively. Only 22.4% of patients had glomerular filtration rate<60 ml/min1.73 m2. After a mean follow-up was 2.15±0.99 years, 77 patients developed the outcome. Calcidiol (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.48-0.94; p = 0.021) and FGF-23 (HR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.04-1.23; p = 0.005) plasma levels predicted independently the outcome. There was a significant interaction between calcidiol and FGF-23 levels (p = 0.025). When the population was divided according to FGF-23 levels, calcidiol still predicted the outcome independently in patients with FGF-23 levels higher than the median (HR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.31-0.80; p = 0.003) but not in those with FGF-23 levels below this value (HR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.62-1.71; p = 0.904). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in mineral metabolism are frequent in patients with stable coronary artery disease. In this population, low calcidiol plasma levels predict an adverse prognosis in the presence of high FGF-23 levels.