Background: The object of this study was to investigate the potential role of FGF23 on plaque stability in type 2 diabetic patients with internal carotid artery stenosis.
Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed FGF23 serum level in 361 type 2 diabetic patients with internal carotid artery stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy and in 598 diabetic controls without carotid atherosclerosis.
Results: We found that FGF23 median serum levels was significantly higher in patients than in diabetic controls [67.7 (59.5-77.8) pg/mL and 43.89 (37.5-50.4), P < 0.001] and was significantly and independently associated with unstable plaque in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis [OR, 5,71 (95% CI, 2.09-15.29].
Conclusions: We have found, for the first time, that FGF23 could be associated with unstable plaque in type 2 diabetic patients with internal carotid artery stenosis.