Second trimester maternal serum cystatin C levels in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies: A small case-control...

Cystatin C (CC) is a marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and is elevated in cases of established preeclampsia (PE). It also has widespread presence in extracellular space and high levels in PE might reflect placental ischemia. The aim of this study was to measure CC levels in the second trimester in women who subsequently develop PE and in those who remained normotensive.

Maternal serum taken at time of the anomaly scan from 15 women was analysed for CC and creatinine levels. Six women later developed PE and 9 remained normotensive.

Cystatin C levels were significantly higher in women who developed preeclampsia (mean value 0.76 vs. 0.53 mg/L, p = 0.008). However, creatinine levels showed no statistical difference (mean value 76.1 vs. 65.5 micromol/L, p = 0.066). The range of CC was 0.41-0.55 mg/L in normotensive pregnancies and 0.50-1.26 mg/L in pregnancies with PE.

This small observational study showed that serum CC is raised as early as the second trimester in women who subsequently develop PE in third trimester. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of CC as an early marker for the prediction of PE.