Evaluation of renal function by cystatin C in renal transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
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.


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.
Department of Chemical Pathology Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Civil Hospital, Karachi-74200, Pakistan.
Salma
S
Ayub
Mirza Naqi
MN
Zafar
Tahir
T
Aziz
Tanweer
T
Iqbal
Sadia
S
Khan
S Adibul Hasan
SA
Rizvi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; D003404:Creatinine