Can cystatin C replace creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate? A literature review.
BACKGROUND
With the increasing knowledge that estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from serum creatinine (Scr) has limited value, researchers have developed new equations based on serum cystatin C (Cys C).


OBJECTIVE
To compare the performance of serum Cys C and Cys C-based GFR equations to Scr and Scr-based GFR equations.


METHODS
A Medline literature search for studies in English.


RESULTS
Fourteen studies in kidney transplant patients and 29 in patients with native kidney disease were identified. 70% of studies on transplants favored Cys C over Scr while 60% favored serum Cys C over Scr in patients with native kidney disease. Three studies in transplant patients and 6 in patients with native kidney disease compared the performances of Cys C- and Scr-based equations. 70% of the studies performed on transplantation favored Cys C, while 85% the studies performed in native kidney diseases showed superiority of Cys C-based equations.


CONCLUSIONS
A large number of studies favor Cys C over Scr for the estimation of GFR. Still, many reports show no superiority of Cys C over Scr. Consistent with this, more studies are needed to study the performance of Cys C-based GFR equations.
Zahran
Ahmed
A
Royal University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada.
El-Husseini
Amr
A
Shoker
Ahmed
A
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000097:blood*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008954:Models, Biological
D015415:Biomarkers; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins; D003404:Creatinine