Association of Serum Beta-Trace Protein Levels in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case-control Study

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is common disorder showing decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) value (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Because of limitations of creatinine as a biomarker of GFR, new alternative biomarkers are being investigated, such as Beta-Trace Protein (BTP) is low molecular weight proteins that are filtered by the glomeruli. Serum BTP have been shown to be more helpful for estimating GFR. Aim: To assess the role of Beta-Trace Protein (BTP) as a potential biomarker of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in comparison to serum urea, serum creatinine, fasting blood sugar and Creatinine Clearance Rate (CCR). Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Government Medical College, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India, from February 2021 to December 2021. Total 50 known patients of kidney diseases and 50 healthy individuals above the age of 18 years were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected from all individuals and serum BTP, serum urea level, serum creatinine level, fasting blood sugar were measured. Correlation of BTP with serum urea level, serum creatinine level, Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) level, and CCR was calculated by Pearson Correlation test. Results: In present study, 50 patients in case groups (33 male and 17 females) and 50 healthy controls (25 males and 25 females) were included. Among controls, the mean age of patients was 52.12 +/- 5.66 years and among cases 55.9 +/- 10.51 years. BTP level was increased two times (from 32.06 +/- 11.25 mu g/ml to 66.36 +/- 27.80 pg/ml) in CKD patients than controls individuals. BTP level was positively correlated with serum urea level, serum creatinine level, and FBG level while negatively correlated with CCR. Conclusion: BTP may be a useful and reliable serum marker for identifying the magnitude of renal dysfunction in patients with CKD and may have its place beside serum creatinine as an alternative endogenous GFR marker.