Plasma chitotriosidase enzyme activity as a novel therapeutic monitor for cysteamine treatment in nephropathic cystinosis: A retrospective validation study.

BACKGROUND: Cystine-depleting therapy in nephropathic cystinosis is currently monitored via the white blood cell cystine assay, although its application and usefulness are limited by practical and technical issues. Therefore, alternative biomarkers that are widely available, more economical and less technically demanding, while reliably reflecting long-term adherence to cysteamine treatment, are desirable. Recently, we proposed chitotriosidase enzyme activity as a potential novel biomarker for the therapeutic monitoring of cysteamine treatment in cystinosis. In this study, we aimed to validate our previous findings and to confirm the value of chitotriosidase in the management of cystinosis therapy. MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 12 patients treated at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and followed up for at least 2 years. Plasma chitotriosidase enzyme activity was correlated with corresponding clinical and biochemical data. RESULTS: Plasma chitotriosidase enzyme activity significantly correlated with WBC cystine levels, cysteamine total daily dosage and a Composite compliance score. Moreover, plasma chitotriosidase was a significant independent predictor for WBC cystine levels, and cut-off values were established in both non-kidney transplanted and kidney transplanted cystinosis patients to distinguish patients with a good versus poor compliance with cysteamine treatment. Our observations are consistent with those of our previous study and validate our findings. CONCLUSIONS: Chitotriosidase enzyme activity is a valid potential alternative biomarker for monitoring cysteamine treatment in nephropathic cystinosis patients. SYNOPSIS: Chitotriosidase enzyme activity is a valid potential alternative biomarker for monitoring cysteamine treatment in nephropathic cystinosis patients.

Marcadores práticos de função renal em pacientes com cistinose / Practical markers of renal function in cystinosis patients

INTRODUÇÃO: Cistinose é uma doença sistêmica, autossômica recessiva, que leva à insuficiência renal crônica na infância, a não ser que o tratamento com cisteamina seja iniciado precocemente. Mesmo nestas condições, os pacientes evoluem para doença renal crônica terminal por volta da segunda década da vida. Portanto, a avaliação da função renal é essencial neste grupo de pacientes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e correlacionar a cistatina C, creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela Fórmula de Schwartz em pacientes com cistinose, com diferentes graus de função renal. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos pacientes com menos de 18 anos de idade, com diferentes níveis de função renal, de acordo com o KDOQI em estágios 1 a 4. Nenhum dos pacientes estava em terapia de substituição renal. Foram medidos os seguintes parâmetros: cistatina C, creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz. RESULTADOS: Foram analisadas 103 amostras de sangue de 26 pacientes. Foi detectada correlação significativa entre creatinina sérica e cistatina C (r = 0,81, p < 0,0001), cistatina C e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz (r = -0,84, p < 0,0001) e creatinina sérica e clearance de creatinina (r = -0,97, p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: A medida da cistatina não mostrou nenhuma vantagem sobre a creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz em pacientes com cistinose para avaliar o ritmo de filtração glomerular. Este é o primeiro relato sobre o valor da creatinina sérica, do clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz e da cistatina C em pacientes com cistinose.

BACKGROUND: Cystinosis is an autossomic recessive systemic disease that leads to renal insufficiency early in life unless cysteamine be started early. Unfortunately, even in this situation the patients will develop chronic renal disease with need of renal replacement therapy about second decade of life. Therefore, the renal function evaluation is essential to these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cystatin C, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (Schwartz Formula) in cystinosis patients, with different degrees of renal function, and to correlate these parameters. METHODS: We studied cystinosis patients, aged lower than 18 years, with different degrees of renal function, classified according to KDOQI in Chronic Kidney Disease stage 1 to 4. No patient was under renal replacement therapy. In these patients we evaluate the serum creatinine, cystatin C and creatinine clearance according to Schwartz Formula. RESULTS: We analyzed 103 blood samples of 26 patients. We detected a significant statistical correlation between serum creatinine and cystatin C (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), cystatin C and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (r = -0.84, p < 0.0001) and between serum creatinine and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (r = -0.97, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The expensive measurement of cystatin C showed no advantage in relation to serum creatinine and creatinine clearance according to Schwartz Formula in cystinosis patients to estimate the glomerular filtration rate. This is the first report checking the value of serum creatinine, creatinine clearance estimated by stature and cystatin C in cystinosis patients.