Serum Cistatin C in patients with delayed graft function

Despite recent studies showing that serum Cystatin C(CysC) is a better marker for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than the ubiquitously used creatinine, the clinical utility of this remains to be evaluated. This marker is very sensitive for alograft function after renal transplantation. Concentration of CysC was compared with that of creatinine. Decreased renal function was followed in 64 transplanted patients. Plasma CysC significantly correlated (r=0.625, p<0.001) with creatinine in healthy controls. In these patients the mean plasma creatinine and Cystatin C concentrations were: 81+/-13 mmol/L,0.90 +/-0.22 mg/L, respectively. Plasma Cystatin C and creatinine significantly correlated throughout the post-transplantation period (r=0.686, p<0.001), but we confirmed differences between kinetics of these parameters. In the first four days after transplantation the CysC concentration was normalized faster than creatinine concentration. Development of acute rejection episode ( between 5 and 7 days) showed high sensitivity and specificity of the changes of CysC compared with those of creatinine.