Serum Levels of the Adipokine FGF21 Depend on Renal Function

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE—To investigate renal elimination of the adipokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) by determining circulating FGF21 levels in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CD) as compared with control subjects with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >50 ml/min. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—FGF21 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in control (n = 60) and CD (n = 60) patients and correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation in both groups. RESULTS—Median serum FGF21 levels were >15-fold higher in CD patients (3,710.6 ng/l) than in subjects with a GFR >50 ml/min (201.9 ng/l) (P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum creatinine positively and GFR negatively predicted FGF21 concentrations in multiple regression analyses in control subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS—FGF21 serum levels increase in CD patients and are related to markers of renal function in control subjects.