Question

Serum cystatin C as a marker of kidney function , its role in diagnosis , prognosis , and detection of renal impairments , in addition include in you reports the pros and cons of cystatin C as a marker of kidney function

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Answer 1

Ans: Serum cystatin as a marker of kidney function: Cystatin C is a protein produced in our body. When kidneys are working properly, the level of cystatin C in blood is in regulated amount. However, If the level of cystatin C in blood is too high, it mean that kidneys are not working well. A test for cystatin C amount in blood help to find GFR (glomerular filtration rate). It gives almost complete working report of kidneys. Cystatin C is expressed in all nucleated cells at a constant rate and is freely filtered by the glomerulus. Then it is reabsorbed by tubular epithelial cells and catabolized, so, it does not return to the bloodstream. These properties make it a valuable endogenous marker of renal function.

Role in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of renal impairments:

A blood test for estimating the amount of Serum Cystatin C in the body of a person gives a measure of GFR of that person. GFR is directly related to kidney functions. A low GFR means kidneys are not well. GFR amount of patient (along with other some other test like urine protein test, albumin test etc) is used to identify the disease in patient.

It plays important role to diagnose and prognose many AKDs (acute kindney diseases) and (chronic kidney diseases).

Pros and cons of cystatin C as a marker of kidney function:

Pros:

• Cystatin C does not depend on muscle mass, sex and age of patient.
• It can also predict the adverse outcomes of decreased GFR like cardiovascular disease, risk of death etc.
• It is more accurate and sensitive than other tests for GFR.
• It gives the indication of disease sooner than other test. Hence, disease can be identified in early stages.

Cons:

• It is more expensive than its pre-existing alternative serum creatine test.
• Some studies have suggest that amount ofcystatin C is influenced by many variables (e.g., age, sex, body mass, smoking, hypertension, coronary heart disease and C-reactive protein) and is not solely influenced by renal function even after adjustments for kidney function.