Cystatin C: A Promising Marker of Renal Function in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Acta Med Port. 2015 May-Jun;28(3):333-41. Epub 2015 Jun 30.

Abstract

Purpose: Cystatin C has a higher correlation with glomerular filtration rate and a more significant clinical prognosis than creatinine. We sought to determine whether it is a marker of renal function different from creatinine (cystatin C potentially superior to creatinine), in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Material and methods: 37 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were evaluated. Serum cystatin C was determined by nephelometry and creatinine by modified Jaffe method. We compared five formulas: Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystiatin; Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine-cystatin; Cockcroft-Gault; Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine, using the latter as a reference. We analyzed the influence of clinical and laboratory factors in cystatin C variation, using multivariate linear regression.

Results: Cystatin C was singly elevated in ten participants, versus none isolated creatinine elevation, and this difference was significant (p = 0.002). There was a difference between the estimated glomerular filtration rate by Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin and by Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine (-6.0541 mL/min/1.73 m², p = 0.07), more pronounced for lower glomerular filtration rate. Consequently, Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin reclassified 4 patients as having chronic kidney disease de novo and 1 patient as not having chronic kidney disease (p = 0.375). Cystatin C was only significantly influenced by age (p < 0.001).

Discussion: Several reports showed cystatin C as a better marker to define chronic kidney disease, allowing more accurate classification and risk stratification, compared with creatinine. In this study, Cystatin C revealed as a promisor marker of renal function in patient with lupus, mainly in patients with lower glomerular filtration rates. The correlation between age and cystatin C seems to be a confounding factor, as glomerular filtration rate physiologically declines with ageing.

Conclusion: Cystatin C was potentially superior to creatinine and in this study and cystatin C seems to detect changes in glomerular filtration rate earlier than creatinine and may be a better screening method for chronic kidney disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introdução: A cistatina C possui uma correlação superior com a taxa de filtrado glomerular e um prognóstico clínico mais significativo do que a creatinina. Procurou-se averiguar se constitui um marcador de função renal diferente da creatinina (cistatina C potencialmente superior à creatinina), em doentes com lúpus eritematoso sistémico.Material e Métodos: Foram avaliados 37 doentes com lúpus eritematoso sistémico, sem evidência de nefrite lúpica activa. Determinouse a cistatina C sérica por nefelometria e a creatinina pelo método de Jaffe modificado. Compararam-se cinco fórmulas: Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin; Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine-cystatin; Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease e Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology creatinine, utilizando-se esta última como referência. Analisou-se a influência de factores clínicos e laboratoriais na variação da cistatina C, por regressão linear multivariada. Resultados: A cistatina C encontrava-se isoladamente elevada em dez participantes, ao invés de nenhuma elevação isolada dacreatinina, sendo esta diferença significativa (p = 0,002). Verificou-se uma diferença entre a taxa de filtrado glomerular estimada pela Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin e pela Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine (-6,0541 mL/min/1,73 m2, p = 0,07), mais acentuada para taxas de filtração glomerular mais baixas. Assim, a fórmula Chronic Kidney Disease â Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin reclassificou 4 doentes como tendo doença renal crónica de novo e um doente como não tendo doença renal crónica (p = 0,375). A cistatina C foi influenciada significativamente apenas pela idade (p &lt; 0,001).Discussão: Vários estudos demonstraram que a cistatina C melhora a definição de doença renal crónica, permitindo uma classificação e uma estratificação do risco mais exactas, comparativamente à creatinina. A cistatina C revelou-se, neste estudo, um marcador de função renal promissor nos doentes com lupus, principalmente para taxas de filtrado glomerular mais baixas. A correlação da cistatina C com a idade para ser um factor confundente, na medida em que existe um declínio fisiológico da taxa de filtração glomerular com o envelhecimento.Conclusão: A cistatina C foi potencialmente superior à creatinina e nesta amostra a cistatina C pareceu detectar mais precocemente do que a creatinina alterações na taxa de filtrado glomerular, podendo ser um melhor método de rastreio de doença renal crónica no lúpus eritematoso sistémico.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Creatinine / blood*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cystatin C / blood*
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Humans
  • Kidney / physiopathology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / blood*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / etiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cystatin C
  • Creatinine