Serum Cystatin C Levels in Twin Pregnancy versus Singleton Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To explore whether there was an increased secretion of cystatin C (Cys C) in twin pregnancy.

Methods: Patients with a total of 281 singleton pregnancies (including 38 patients with preeclampsia) and 72 twin pregnancies, as well as 42 patients who were not pregnant, were included in this study. We tested levels of serum Cys C, creatinine, and uric acid, along with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), in different groups.

Results: The levels of serum Cys C in all 3 trimesters for women with twin pregnancy were much higher than those in the corresponding trimesters for women with singleton pregnancy. However, we observed little change in eGFR in the corresponding trimesters. Cys C/eGFR in the second and third trimester of twin pregnancy increased, compared with the corresponding trimesters of women with singleton pregnancy. Levels of serum Cys C were higher in the third trimester in women with twin pregnancy than that in patients with preeclampsia. Also, Cys C/eGFR in the third trimester of twin pregnancy was close to the level observed in patients with preeclampsia.

Conclusions: Increased secretion of Cys C could contribute to the elevated serum Cys C levels that we observed in twin pregnancy.

Keywords: Twin pregnancy; creatinine; glomerular filtration rate.