Q&A With Brian Kestenbaum From University of Washington: Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 May Play Key Role in Future Disease Treatment

While everyone has the fibroblast growth factor 23 hormone there has been some research into whether it can be linked to diseases and other conditions that can make some people sick.

Brian Kestenbaum, MD, MS, from the University of Washington discussed some of the early research on the hormone during the AACE's 24th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress. Kestenbaum said the main role appears to be helping kidneys clear phosphates from the body. The question being investigated is whether it is tied to other more serious conditions like kidney disease and what can be done to help those patients. Even as more is learned about the role of the hormone in the body Kestenbaum said there is nothing that can be done to reverse the negative effects it has on the body.