Cystatin C assay for the detection of renal dysfunction in Chinese renal transplant recipients

Clin Chim Acta. 2002 Aug;322(1-2):133-7. doi: 10.1016/s0009-8981(02)00159-6.

Abstract

Background: Accurate and rapid assessment of kidney function in patients after renal transplantation is of major significance. We investigated whether cystatin C can accurately reflect creatinine clearance over the entire range of kidney graft function. The performance of serum cystatin C as a screening marker of reduced creatinine clearance in renal transplantation was evaluated and compared to serum creatinine.

Methods: Serum cystatin C, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured in 103 adult renal transplant recipients. The cystatin C assay was performed using particle-enhanced immunonephelometry.

Results: We demonstrated a significant linear correlation between 1/cystatin C and creatinine clearance over the entire range of transplant function, comparable to that of creatinine. Cystatin C detected reduced creatinine clearance with higher sensitivity of 92.9% (95% CI 80.5-98.4%) than serum creatinine, 71.4% (95% CI 55.4-84.3%). From the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots, serum cystatin C is superior to serum creatinine at 90% and 95% sensitivity.

Conclusions: Serum cystatin C accurately reflects creatinine clearance over the entire range of transplant kidney function and is more efficacious than serum creatinine to detect reduced creatinine clearance in renal transplant recipients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • China
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Cystatin C
  • Cystatins / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney / physiopathology*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Insufficiency / blood*
  • Renal Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

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