TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnostic value of plasma cystatin C as a glomerular filtration marker in decompensated liver cirrhosis
AU - Orlando, Rocco
AU - Mussap, Michele
AU - Plebani, Mario
AU - Picooli, Peirpaolo
AU - De Martin, Sara
AU - Floreani, Maura
AU - Padrini, Roberto
AU - Palatini, Pietro
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: Plasma creatinine concentration and calculated creatinine clearance are of limited value as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) markers in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. We assessed plasma cystatin C as an indicator of GFR in such patients. Methods: We studied 36 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and 56 noncirrhotic controls, both groups including individuals with normal and impaired renal function. GFR was measured in all individuals by inulin clearance, with values -1 1.73 m-2 considered decreased. We measured cystatin C and creatinine in plasma and calculated (from plasma concentrations) and measured creatinine clearances, using for them decision points of 1.25 mg/L, 115 μmol/L, and 72 and 72 mL. min-1 1.73 m-2, respectively. Results: Plasma cystatin C concentrations were similar in controls and cirrhotics and, at the usual cutpoint, could detect decreased GFR with similar sensitivities in the two groups (73% and 88%, respectively). Serum creatinine was markedly lower in cirrhotics and remained mostly within the reference interval at all GFR values; the diagnostic sensitivity of creatinine was much lower in cirrhotics than in controls (23% vs 64%). Lower diagnostic sensitivity was also observed for calculated creatinine clearance (53% vs 100% in controls), whereas similar sensitivities were found for measured creatinine clearance (86% and 81%) in controls and cirrhotics, respectively. ROC analysis showed that all four variables had similar diagnostic accuracies in cirrhotic patients. However, it also revealed that good diagnostic accuracies for plasma creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance can be obtained only if reference intervals different from those used for the general population are adopted. Conclusions: Plasma cystatin C concentration is an accurate GFR marker in cirrhotic patients. Plasma creatinine concentration and calculated creatinine clearance are of no practical value, as their reference values vary with the severity of the liver disease.
AB - Background: Plasma creatinine concentration and calculated creatinine clearance are of limited value as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) markers in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. We assessed plasma cystatin C as an indicator of GFR in such patients. Methods: We studied 36 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and 56 noncirrhotic controls, both groups including individuals with normal and impaired renal function. GFR was measured in all individuals by inulin clearance, with values -1 1.73 m-2 considered decreased. We measured cystatin C and creatinine in plasma and calculated (from plasma concentrations) and measured creatinine clearances, using for them decision points of 1.25 mg/L, 115 μmol/L, and 72 and 72 mL. min-1 1.73 m-2, respectively. Results: Plasma cystatin C concentrations were similar in controls and cirrhotics and, at the usual cutpoint, could detect decreased GFR with similar sensitivities in the two groups (73% and 88%, respectively). Serum creatinine was markedly lower in cirrhotics and remained mostly within the reference interval at all GFR values; the diagnostic sensitivity of creatinine was much lower in cirrhotics than in controls (23% vs 64%). Lower diagnostic sensitivity was also observed for calculated creatinine clearance (53% vs 100% in controls), whereas similar sensitivities were found for measured creatinine clearance (86% and 81%) in controls and cirrhotics, respectively. ROC analysis showed that all four variables had similar diagnostic accuracies in cirrhotic patients. However, it also revealed that good diagnostic accuracies for plasma creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance can be obtained only if reference intervals different from those used for the general population are adopted. Conclusions: Plasma cystatin C concentration is an accurate GFR marker in cirrhotic patients. Plasma creatinine concentration and calculated creatinine clearance are of no practical value, as their reference values vary with the severity of the liver disease.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 12029000
AN - SCOPUS:0036267332
VL - 48
SP - 850
EP - 858
JO - Clinical Chemistry
JF - Clinical Chemistry
SN - 0009-9147
IS - 6
ER -