FGF23 Level and Intima‐Media Thickness Are Elevated From Early Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Considering high cardiovascular (CV) risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the aim of this cross‐sectional study was to assess the association between carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 as important players in CV pathophysiology. Eighty‐seven patients with mean estimated glomerular filtration rate 40.1 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 were involved. FGF23 and IMT were elevated from early stages of CKD. Mean IMT value was 1.10 ± 0.20 mm, being significantly elevated starting from early CKD, showing no correlation with FGF23 ( r = −0.01, P = −0.91). Unlike the FGF23 level that followed worsening of kidney function, IMT was increasing only in the initial CKD stages, with no further increase from CKD stage 3 on. Although we found no direct association between current use of vitamin D and statin therapy, this may be associated with the sustained reference values of lipid and vitamin D status under treatment that further preclude worsening of IMT in patients with advanced CKD.