Serum basic fibroblast growth factor as a marker of reflux nephropathy

Purpose

The authors investigated whether serum basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) can be used as a noninvasive marker of renal parenchymal damage (scarring) in cases of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR).

Methods

Serum levels of b-FGF were measured in 120 children with known grade III to grade V VUR and 21 controls using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Results

Sixty-five children had grade III VUR, 39 had grade IV, and 16 had grade V. Renal scarring was seen in 43 children on radionuclide scanning. There were no significant differences between serum b-FGF levels for different grades of VUR without scarring and controls. However, serum b-FGF levels were significantly higher in VUR patients with renal scarring than in patients with VUR without renal scarring (P < .001).

Conclusions

This report is the first to document serum b-FGF profiles in children with VUR and renal scarring. The authors recommend measuring it as a simple, noninvasive marker of renal scarring in cases of VUR.