Simple Cystatin C–Based Prediction Equations for Glomerular Filtration Rate Compared with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Prediction Equation for Adults and the Schwartz and the Counahan–Barratt Prediction Equations for Children

Abstract

Background: Serum creatinine is the most commonly used marker for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To compensate for its drawbacks as a GFR marker, several prediction equations including several parameters are being used, with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Schwartz, and Counahan–Barratt equations being the ones most widely accepted for estimation of relative GFR in mL · min⁻¹ · (1.73 m²)⁻¹. The present study analyzes whether these GFR prediction equations for adults and children might be replaced by simple prediction equations based on plasma concentrations of cystatin C.