Pascale Khairallah1, Tamara Isakova2, John Asplin3, Lee Hamm4, Mirela Dobre5, Mahboob Rahman5, Kumar Sharma6, Mary Leonard7, Edgar Miller8, Bernard Jaar9, Carolyn Brecklin10, Wei Yang11, Xue Wang11, Harold Feldman12, Myles Wolf1, Julia J Scialla13. 1. Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC. 2. Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Center for Translational Metabolism and Health, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. 3. Litholink Corp, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Chicago, IL. 4. Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. 5. Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. 6. Department of Medicine, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA. 8. Department of Medicine, Prevention and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Welch Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. 9. Department of Medicine, Prevention and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Welch Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Nephrology Center of Maryland, Baltimore, MD. 10. Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL. 11. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. 12. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. 13. Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Department of Medicine, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC. Electronic address: julia.scialla@duke.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The kidneys maintain acid-base homeostasis through excretion of acid as either ammonium or as titratable acids that primarily use phosphate as a buffer. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), ammoniagenesis is impaired, promoting metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis stimulates phosphaturic hormones, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in vitro, possibly to increase urine titratable acid buffers, but this has not been confirmed in humans. We hypothesized that higher acid load and acidosis would associate with altered phosphorus homeostasis, including higher urinary phosphorus excretion and serum PTH and FGF-23. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 980 participants with CKD enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. PREDICTORS: Net acid excretion as measured in 24-hour urine, potential renal acid load (PRAL) estimated from food frequency questionnaire responses, and serum bicarbonate concentration < 22 mEq/L. OUTCOME & MEASUREMENTS: 24-hour urine phosphorus and calcium excretion and serum phosphorus, FGF-23, and PTH concentrations. RESULTS: Using linear and log-linear regression adjusted for demographics, kidney function, comorbid conditions, body mass index, diuretic use, and 24-hour urine creatinine excretion, we found that 24-hour urine phosphorus excretion was higher at higher net acid excretion, higher PRAL, and lower serum bicarbonate concentration (each P<0.05). Serum phosphorus concentration was also higher with higher net acid excretion and lower serum bicarbonate concentration (each P=0.001). Only higher net acid excretion associated with higher 24-hour urine calcium excretion (P<0.001). Neither net acid excretion nor PRAL was associated with FGF-23 or PTH concentrations. PTH, but not FGF-23, concentration (P=0.2) was 26% (95% CI, 13%-40%) higher in participants with a serum bicarbonate concentration <22 versus ≥22 mEq/L (P<0.001). Primary results were similar if stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate categories or adjusted for iothalamate glomerular filtration rate (n=359), total energy intake, dietary phosphorus, or urine urea nitrogen excretion, when available. LIMITATIONS: Possible residual confounding by kidney function or nutrition; urine phosphorus excretion was included in calculation of the titratable acid component of net acid excretion. CONCLUSIONS: In CKD, higher acid load and acidosis associate independently with increased circulating phosphorus concentration and augmented phosphaturia, but not consistently with FGF-23 or PTH concentrations. This may be an adaptation that increases titratable acid excretion and thus helps maintain acid-base homeostasis in CKD. Understanding whether administration of base can lower phosphorus concentrations requires testing in interventional trials.
BACKGROUND: The kidneys maintain acid-base homeostasis through excretion of acid as either ammonium or as titratable acids that primarily use phosphate as a buffer. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), ammoniagenesis is impaired, promoting metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis stimulates phosphaturic hormones, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in vitro, possibly to increase urine titratable acid buffers, but this has not been confirmed in humans. We hypothesized that higher acid load and acidosis would associate with altered phosphorus homeostasis, including higher urinary phosphorus excretion and serum PTH and FGF-23. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 980 participants with CKD enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. PREDICTORS: Net acid excretion as measured in 24-hour urine, potential renal acid load (PRAL) estimated from food frequency questionnaire responses, and serum bicarbonate concentration < 22 mEq/L. OUTCOME & MEASUREMENTS: 24-hour urine phosphorus and calcium excretion and serum phosphorus, FGF-23, and PTH concentrations. RESULTS: Using linear and log-linear regression adjusted for demographics, kidney function, comorbid conditions, body mass index, diuretic use, and 24-hour urine creatinine excretion, we found that 24-hour urine phosphorus excretion was higher at higher net acid excretion, higher PRAL, and lower serum bicarbonate concentration (each P<0.05). Serum phosphorus concentration was also higher with higher net acid excretion and lower serum bicarbonate concentration (each P=0.001). Only higher net acid excretion associated with higher 24-hour urine calcium excretion (P<0.001). Neither net acid excretion nor PRAL was associated with FGF-23 or PTH concentrations. PTH, but not FGF-23, concentration (P=0.2) was 26% (95% CI, 13%-40%) higher in participants with a serum bicarbonate concentration <22 versus ≥22 mEq/L (P<0.001). Primary results were similar if stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate categories or adjusted for iothalamate glomerular filtration rate (n=359), total energy intake, dietary phosphorus, or urine ureanitrogen excretion, when available. LIMITATIONS: Possible residual confounding by kidney function or nutrition; urine phosphorus excretion was included in calculation of the titratable acid component of net acid excretion. CONCLUSIONS: In CKD, higher acid load and acidosis associate independently with increased circulating phosphorus concentration and augmented phosphaturia, but not consistently with FGF-23 or PTH concentrations. This may be an adaptation that increases titratable acid excretion and thus helps maintain acid-base homeostasis in CKD. Understanding whether administration of base can lower phosphorus concentrations requires testing in interventional trials.
Authors: Julia J Scialla; John Asplin; Mirela Dobre; Alex R Chang; James Lash; Chi-Yuan Hsu; Radhakrishna R Kallem; L Lee Hamm; Harold I Feldman; Jing Chen; Lawrence J Appel; Cheryl A M Anderson; Myles Wolf Journal: Kidney Int Date: 2016-12-01 Impact factor: 10.612
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