Evaluation of renal function by cystatin C in renal transplant recipients

Exp Clin Transplant. 2014 Feb;12(1):37-40. doi: 10.6002/ect.2013.0202.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated cystatin C concentration as a marker of glomerular filtration rate in renal transplant recipients, and its correlation with creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate by urinary creatinine clearance, and the Cockroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulas.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, we measured serum cystatin C levels and its correlation with serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and glomerular filtration rate using the Cockroft-Gault formula and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulas.

Results: One hundred two recipients between June and December 2012, were examined. The mean subject age was 31.87 ± 8.37 years; the male:female ratio was 4.3:1. Mean serum creatinine concentration was 141.44 ± 43.31 mol/L (1.60 ± 0.49 mg/dL) and serum cystatin C 122.09 ± 38.95 nmol/L (1.63 ± 0.52 mg/L). Serum cystatin C was significantly correlated with serum creatinine (r=0.90; P<.001), creatinine clearance (r=0.77; P<.001), and the Cockroft-Gault (r=0.73; P<.001) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulas (r=0.82; P<.001). We assessed the correlation among serum cystatin C with serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, the Cockroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease at 1, 2-3, 4-5, and more than 5 years after transplant. The correlation between serum cystatin C and serum creatinine ranged from 0.8 to 1.0; cystatin C and creatinine clearance ranged from 0.8 to 0.85; serum cystatin C and the Cockroft-Gault Formula ranged from 0.7 to 0.8; and serum cystatin C and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulas ranged from 0.8 to 0.84.

Conclusions: Our results show that serum cystatin C is a reliable marker for estimating glomerular filtration rate among renal transplant recipients. This test can determine the glomerular filtration rate of renal transplant recipients on follow-up. Further studies are required to establish serum cystatin C as a standard test for monitoring glomerular filtration rate in transplanted patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cystatin C / blood*
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism*
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Kidney / surgery
  • Kidney Function Tests*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Postoperative Complications / blood
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis*
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • Transplant Recipients*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CST3 protein, human
  • Cystatin C
  • Creatinine