Discrepant creatinine- versus cystatin C-based kidney function estimates in pediatric heart and liver transplant recipients

Excerpt

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is routinely used to identify kidney disease, inform drug dosing, and improve risk stratification. Calculation of estimated GFR (eGFR) classically relied on point-in-time values of serum creatinine, an endogenous byproduct of muscle metabolism. However, extremes of muscle mass such as illness-related sarcopenia can reduce the accuracy of creatinine-based eGFR, and the use of alternative biomarkers such as the endogenous protease inhibitor cystatin C may be more appropriate. We sought to assess differences between creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR in pediatric heart and liver transplant recipients before and after transplantation. …