title: Fetal serum α-1 microglobulin for renal function assessment: comparison with β2-microglobulin and cystatin C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prognostic value of fetal serum α1-microglobulin with that of β2-microglobulin and cystatin C for postnatal renal function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of α1-microglobulin, β2-microglobulin, and cystatin C in fetal serum from 126 fetuses with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (73 and 53, respectively). Two groups were defined: group with normal renal function and group with renal failure. For live born infants, renal function was assessed on the basis of serum creatinine (cutoff 50 µmol/L) or glomerular filtration rate (cutoff 75 mL/min/1.73 m2) or both. In case of infant or fetal death, histological kidney lesions were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed for the three markers between fetuses with good renal prognosis and those with renal failure (34.4 mg/L vs 67.6 mg/L for α1-microglobulin, respectively; 3.9 mg/L vs 7.35 mg/L, for β2-microglobulin, respectively; and 1.67 mg/L vs 2.12 mg/L for cystatin C, respectively). Areas under receiver operator curves were used to compare the three markers, 0.96, 0.90, and 0.74 for β2-microglobulin, α1-microglobulin, and cystatin C, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although α1-microglobulin is significantly different in fetuses with good renal prognosis and those with renal failure, overall, it is a less reliable prognostic marker than fetal serum β2-microglobulin.
authors.affiliation: Biochimie-Hormonologie, Hôpital Robert Debré AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dreux
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heidet
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Czerkiewicz
authors.forename: Laurent J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guimiot
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsatsaris
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boulot
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; C016001:alpha-1-microglobulin; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin