Serum creatinine, cystatin C, and beta-trace protein in diagnostic staging and prediction of progression of primary non-diabetic chronic kidney disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem with increasing incidence and prevalence rates, poor outcomes and high health care costs. Impaired baseline kidney function is a well defined risk factor for progression of CKD. Measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is widely accepted as the best measure of overall renal function. Alternatively, serum markers, such as serum creatinine, or the newer low-molecular weight markers, cystatin C and beta-trace protein (BTP), are used to assess kidney function. We compared the diagnostic performance of creatinine, cystatin C, and BTP for sta…