Serum Levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Are Inversely Associated with Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese Individuals

BACKGROUND The fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has been implicated in recent studies as a potential regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism, which may lead to atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the association of FGF19 with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese population. METHODS A total of 315 patients with suspected or established CAD, including 205 males and 110 postmenopausal females, were enrolled and assessed by coronary angiography. CAD severity was determined by the Gensini score. Serum FGF19 was measured by quantitative sandwich ELISA. RESULTS FGF19 levels were not significantly different between male and female patients (median [interquartile range], 143.40 [87.96-250.80] vs. 141.60 [87.13-226.32] pg/mL, P = 0.773). CAD patients had lower levels of FGF19 than those without CAD (128.20 [80.62-226.58] vs. 188.00 [105.10-284.70] pg/mL, P = 0.007). FGF19 was negatively correlated with 2hPG (r = -0.150, P = 0.008), FINS (r = -0.169, P = 0.004), HOMA-IR (r = -0.171, P = 0.004), and the Gensini score (r = -0.141, P = 0.012), but positively correlated with HDL-c (r = 0.116, P = 0.041) and adiponectin (r = 0.128, P = 0.024). Moreover, FGF19 was found to be independently correlated with 2hPG (β = -0.146, P = 0.022) and adiponectin (β = 0.154, P = 0.016). After adjusting for other CAD risk factors, FGF19 was demonstrated to be an independent factor for Gensini score (β = -0.140, P = 0.019) and the presence of CAD (β = -1.248, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Serum FGF19 is associated with the presence and severity of CAD in a Chinese population.