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Reference serum cystatin C levels in Japanese children
Osamu Uemura1, Katsumi Ushijima, Takuhito Nagai
1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center, 1-2 Osakada, Morioka-cho, Obu, Aichi, 474-8710, Japan. o_uemura@hkg.odn.ne.jp
Insights
Reference serum cystatin C (cysC) levels decrease in the first year of life and stabilize thereafter in Japanese children. These findings establish crucial reference values for assessing pediatric renal function.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Biomarker Research
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Serum cystatin C (cysC) is a biomarker for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults.
- GFR naturally varies in children, necessitating age-specific reference values.
- Establishing pediatric GFR reference ranges is vital for accurate kidney function assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference serum cystatin C concentrations for healthy Japanese children.
- To establish age-specific reference values for serum cysC in pediatric populations.
- To facilitate accurate GFR estimation in children using serum cysC.
Main Methods:
- Serum cysC concentrations were measured using a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay.
- Participants included children without kidney or infectious diseases.
- The relationship between age and serum cysC levels was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Serum cysC levels showed a gradual decrease during the first year of life.
- After one year, serum cysC concentrations remained relatively constant.
- Mean serum cysC was 0.76 ± 0.10 mg/L at 1 year and 0.70 ± 0.09 mg/L at ≥2 years.
Conclusions:
- The established reference values are suitable for screening renal function in Japanese children.
- These findings provide essential data for pediatric nephrology.
- Accurate GFR assessment in children is improved by these reference ranges.
Background:
Single measurements of serum cystatin C (cysC) concentration have generally been used to determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults. Since GFR varies to some extent among children, we attempted to determine reference serum cysC concentrations for Japanese children.
Methods:
Serum cysC concentrations were determined by a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay in children who did not present with kidney disease or infectious disease, and the relationship between age and serum cysC level was assessed.
Results:
We found that reference serum cysC levels gradually decreased during the first year after birth, thereafter becoming constant. Mean serum cysC concentration in children aged 1 year (0.76 ± 0.10 mg/L) was slightly higher than in children aged ≥2 years (0.70 ± 0.09 mg/L).
Conclusion:
Our reference values will be applicable for screening renal function in Japanese children.
