Serum Cystatin C can detect impaired graft function early after renal transplantation

Objectives: To study the significance of Cystatin C (Cys C) in early detection of the graft function after renal transplantation. Material: The concentrations of Cys C, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Serum creatinine (SCr), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured. According to the results of the post-transplantation GFR; Seventy renal post-transplanted patients were assigned into 3 groups: group A (31 cases with the normal range of the renal function, GFIR90 ml/min/1.73 m2), group B (27 cases with Scr<133 pmol/L and 60<GFR<90 ml/min/1.73 m2), and group C (12 cases with Scr>.133 pmol/L and 60<Ccr<90 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). Meanwhile, 60 cases with normal renal function were applied as control group. Results: The Cys C concentration in group B (1.37 0.14) was significantly higher than it in group A (0.96 0.10) (P<0.01). The SCr and the Cys C demonstrated linear correlations with the GFR in all groups of A, B and C. The correlation coefficients (r) in each group were -0.7272 and -0.7439, -0.7072 and -0.7543, -0.7430 and -0.7669; respectively. Conclusions: Compared with Scr, Cys C has better correlations with GFR when the graft function was normal or renal function was slightly impaired. Cys C could be used in the early detection of renal function impairment after transplantation.