Favorable Effects of Burosumab on Fibroblast Growth Factor 23-Related Osteomalacia: A Case Report

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) decreases serum phosphate levels by inhibiting proximal tubular phosphate reabsorption and intestinal phosphate absorption by decreasing serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level, thereby regulating phosphate metabolism. Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by FGF23 overproduction by tumor tissue. Resecting the responsible tumor is a radical treatment for TIO. When the responsible tumor is undetectable, phosphate and active vitamin D administration is recommended. However, supplementation alone is frequently insufficient to maintain phosphate levels and it is difficult to prevent the complications associated with medical therapy, including hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis. Recently, burosumab, a human monoclonal anti-FGF23 antibody, has been approved in Japan as a therapeutic agent for FGF23-related hypophosphatemia. Here, we present a patient with TIO effectively treated with burosumab in the absence of identification of tumour location. Clinical case: A 47-year-old female developed pain and edema of the feet; however, the cause could not be determined at local hospitals. Afterwards, she developed marked bone atrophy in the feet and was referred to our hospital. Her age at symptom onset, hypophosphatemia (serum P, 1.9 mg/dl, 2.7 mg/dl < n < 4.6 mg/dl), high serum FGF23 level (630 pg/ml, 16 pg/ml < n < 69 pg/ml), and decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level (12.9 pg/ml, 20 pg/ml < n < 60 pg/ml) indicated FGF23-related osteomalacia. She was not having any medication at the time of diagnosis, including saccharified iron oxide or iron polymaltose. Urinary phosphate excretion increased without renal tubular defect; therefore, hypophosphatemic osteomalacia was diagnosed. MRI showed high signal intensity in the talus, sacral, and L5 vertebral regions, indicating multiple pseudofractures. Comprehensive imaging studies, including systemic CT scan and 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy, did not reveal any tumors despite the suspicion of TIO. Next, we performed systemic venous sampling, which revealed high FGF23 level in the left external iliac vein. Second venous sampling limited to the left lower limb exhibited high FGF23 level in the posterior tibial vein. However, an additional imaging study limited to the left foot could not identify any tumors. Genetic variation was negative for potentially responsible genes, including PHEX and FGF23. We decided to administer burosumab to normalize serum phosphate level without phosphate supplementation. Within 2 months, pain was relieved and the visual analog scale scores also improved from 10 to 6. Moreover, bone MRI showed improved pseudofractures. Conclusion: Burosumab administration was effective for TIO of unknown origin, and it improved not only laboratory findings but also clinical symptoms in this case.