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Updated: May 28, 2026

Physiology Lab Demonstration: Glomerular Filtration Rate in a Rat
Published on: July 26, 2015
Correlation of cystatin-C with glomerular filtration rate by inulin clearance in pregnancy
A R Saxena1, S Ananth Karumanchi, S-L Fan
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. asaxena@partners.org
Objective:
To test utility of cystatin-C as a marker of glomerular filtration rate during pregnancy, we performed serial correlations with inulin clearance during pregnancy and postpartum.
Methods:
Twelve subjects received inulin infusions and serum cystatin-C at three time points. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated.
Results:
Cystatin-C levels ranged 0.66-1.48 mg/L during pregnancy, and 0.72-1.26 mg/L postpartum. Inulin clearance ranged 130-188 mL/min during pregnancy, and 110-167 mL/min postpartum. Cystatin-C did not correlate with inulin clearance at any time point.
Conclusion:
Serum cystatin-C did not correlate with inulin clearance during pregnancy or postpartum.
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