Studying Phosphorus Metabolism

Overview

Phosphorus and phosphate irons play critical roles in bone structure and essential cellular functions. The purpose of this study is to learn more about the factors and hormones that regulate phosphorus in the body by collecting blood and urine samples from patients with disorders of phosphate control. Both children and adults will be enrolled in this study. Researchers will collect blood and urine samples from participants on multiple occasions (2 to 6 times). Some blood specimens will be taken after an overnight fast and participants may be asked to collect all their urine during a 24-hour period. Researchers will analyze these blood and urine samples to better understanding how the body handles phosphorus.

Phosphorus and phosphate ions play an important role in cellular metabolism as well as bone structure. Scientific evidence suggests that, in addition to Vitamin D and PTH systems, novel factors, such as Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) and Matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE), may play an important role in phosphorus regulation. These factors have been best studied in rare genetic and acquired phosphate wasting disorders such as tumor induced osteomalacia (TIO), X linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR). Patients with other abnormal phosphate regulating states such as hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism etc. undergoing phosphorus-altering interventions may provide important insight into the role of these hormones. We are proposing an observational study with collection of blood and urine samples to study both established (e.g. mineral ions, bone markers, PTH-Vit D system, TMP-GFR) and novel (e.g. FGF-23 and MEPE) constituents of the phosphorus metabolism pathway. Patients with abnormal phosphorus regulating states will be enrolled and we will study the natural history of their disease and the effects of specific interventions that are likely to change phosphorus balance. The outcome will potentially aid understanding of this new field of mineral regulating hormones and generate both interest and research in phosphorus metabolism. It is hoped that this will also encourage clinical trials in treatment of phosphate wasting disorders.