β-Trace protein — A marker of kidney function in children: “Original research communication–clinical investigation”

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry 2007-09, Vol.40 (13), p.969-975
• Main Authors: Bökenkamp, Arend, Franke, Ingo, Schlieber, Michael, Düker, Gesche, Schmitt, Joachim, Buderus, Stefan, Lentze, Michael J., Stoffel-Wagner, Birgit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; beta 2-Microglobulin - blood; Biomarkers - blood; Child; Children; Creatinine; Cystatin C; Cystatins - blood; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases - blood; Kidney Function Tests; Lipocalins; Low-molecular weight proteins; Male; Prostaglandin D2 synthase; Reference values; Renal function tests; β 2-Microglobulin; β-Trace protein
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2007.05.003

To determine the pediatric reference interval for serum β-trace protein (β-TP) and to compare β-TP with established LMW markers of GFR, i.e., cystatin C (CysC) and β 2-microglobulin (β 2-M). All three LMW markers were measured immunonephelometrically. In 106 children above the age of 2 years without evidence of kidney disease, non-parametric reference intervals were calculated. The relative rise of the GFR marker concentrations above the upper reference was studied in 107 samples from 96 patients covering the entire GFR range. Above 2 years, the reference range of β-TP was constant at 0.43–1.04 mg/L. With decreasing Schwartz-GFR, there was a comparable rise in β-TP and β 2-M, while CysC rose less in the group with GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (278 ± 49% [CysC] versus 336 ± 65% [β-TP] and 342 ± 76% [β 2-M]; p = 0.043 and 0.027, respectively). These data confirm the potential of ß-TP as an endogenous GFR marker in children.