Beta-trace protein (BTP): A Marker of Renal Dysfunction in Essential Hypertensive Patients

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to renal damage known as hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Beta-trace protein (BTP), or lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase, has emerged as a sensitive marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), outperforming creatinine in early renal impairment.
Aim: To evaluate serum and urinary BTP as potential indicators of early kidney injury in essential hypertension.
Patients and methods: This cross-sectional clinical study was conducted at the Internal Medicine Department, Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt, in accordance with Institutional Medical Ethical standards. A total of 40 participants were enrolled, including 30 patients with essential hypertension and 10 healthy individuals serving as controls. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants following approval by the Local Ethical Committee. The study was scheduled to commence in 2020.
Aims: To investigate the relationship between hypertension and renal dysfunction.
Results: Serum BTP (cut-off point=3025) and urinary BTP (cut-off point=825) had excellent diagnostic accuracy for the condition. Serum BTP demonstrated 95.8% sensitivity and specificity with an AUC of 0.997 (95% CI 0.990–1.00), while urinary BTP showed 91.7% sensitivity and specificity with an AUC of 0.986 (95% CI 0.962–1.00). Both are highly significant (p < 0.001), with serum BTP showing slightly superior performance.
Conclusion: Beta-trace protein is a valuable, non-invasive biomarker for early renal dysfunction in hypertension and may complement traditional renal tests. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its prognostic utility and establish reference ranges.