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Beta-trace protein--a marker of kidney function in children: "Original research communication-clinical investigation"

Arend Bökenkamp1, Ingo Franke, Michael Schlieber

  • 1Children's Hospital, Bonn University Medical Center, Bonn, Germany. Bokenkamp@VUmc.nl

Clinical Biochemistry
|June 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Serum beta-trace protein (beta-TP) shows potential as a kidney function marker in children. Its pediatric reference interval was established and compared to cystatin C and beta(2)-microglobulin.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Accurate assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is crucial in pediatric kidney disease.
  • Established low-molecular-weight (LMW) markers like cystatin C (CysC) and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-M) have limitations.
  • Beta-trace protein (beta-TP) is an endogenous LMW protein with potential as a GFR marker.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the pediatric reference interval for serum beta-trace protein (beta-TP).
  • To compare the performance of beta-TP against established GFR markers, CysC and beta(2)-M, in children.
  • To evaluate beta-TP's utility as an endogenous marker for GFR in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples from 106 healthy children (age >2 years) were used to determine non-parametric reference intervals for beta-TP, CysC, and beta(2)-M.
  • Immunonephelometry was employed for the quantitative measurement of all three LMW markers.
  • The relative increase in marker concentrations was analyzed in 107 samples from 96 pediatric patients across the full spectrum of GFR.

Main Results:

  • The established reference range for serum beta-TP in children over 2 years old was 0.43-1.04 mg/L.
  • Beta-TP demonstrated a comparable rise to beta(2)-M as GFR decreased.
  • While CysC showed a less pronounced increase in the lowest GFR group ( <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), beta-TP and beta(2)-M exhibited significant elevations (p=0.043 and p=0.027, respectively).

Conclusions:

  • Serum beta-trace protein (beta-TP) is a reliable endogenous marker for assessing GFR in children.
  • Beta-TP exhibits comparable performance to beta(2)-microglobulin and potentially offers advantages over cystatin C in severely impaired GFR.
  • Further validation supports beta-TP's role in pediatric nephrology for GFR estimation.
Abstract

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