Serum cystatin C is an independent predictor of total homocysteine levels in stable Korean renal transplant recipients with normal serum creatinine.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the determinants of fasting plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels such as cystatin C, serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from Cockroft-Gault equation, albumin, plasma folate, vitamin B12, and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) among Korean renal transplant recipients (RTR) with normal SCr levels (< or =1.4 mg/dL).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Nephrology and Transplant Service, Catholic University Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.


METHODS
Fifty-one chronic stable Korean RTR with normal SCr levels (< or =1.4 mg/dL) 6 months or more following transplantation.


METHODS
Medical record review, anthropometric measurements, and overnight (10 to 14 hours) fasting blood samples for measurement of plasma tHcy, folate, vitamin B12, PLP, SCr, albumin, and cystatin C.


RESULTS
General linear regression model including age, gender, vitamin status, and measurements of renal function showed that cystatin C and folate were independent predictors of tHcy levels. The partial regression coefficient for folate was -0.444 (P <.01) and for cystatin C, it was +0.334 (P <.05). SCr, estimated GFR, vitamin B12, PLP, age, and gender were not independent predictors of tHcy levels in this model.


CONCLUSIONS
Both cystatin C and folate status were major independent determinants of fasting tHcy levels in the subgroup of Korean RTR with normal SCr.
Han
H
H
Frances Stern Nutrition Center, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. hhan@world.std.com
Dwyer
J T
JT
Selhub
J
J
Jacques
P F
PF
Houser
R F
RF
Park
J H
JH
Kim
Y S
YS
Bang
B K
BK
Kim
S
S
Jung
K A
KA
Chang
Y K
YK
Bostom
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine