Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Association of Serum Cystatin C With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Community-Based Population
Dongxiao Yao1,2, Shan Li3, Jing Jing1,2
1Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China (D.Y., J.J., A.J., Y.Y., X.M., J.L., H.L., Yongjun Wang, Y.P., Yilong Wang).
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C levels and the presence and severity of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).
Methods:
Community-dwelling residents in the Lishui city in China from the cross-sectional survey of the PRECISE (Poly-Vascular Evaluation for Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Events) cohort study were included in present study from 2017 to 2019. Total CSVD burden and modified total CSVD burden score, as well as the markers of CSVD on magnetic resonance imaging, including white matter hyperintensity, lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces, were assessed at baseline survey. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of cystatin C. The association of serum cystatin C with total CSVD burden and imaging markers was analyzed using ordinal or binary logistic regression models. Furthermore, 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to investigate the genetically predicted effect of cystatin C on CSVD.
Results:
A total of 3061 participants were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 61.2±6.7 years, and 1637 (53.5%) were women. Higher level of cystatin C was associated with an increased total CSVD burden and modified total CSVD burden (Q4 versus Q1: common odds ratio [OR], 1.30 [95% CI, 1.03-1.64] and 1.32 [95% CI, 1.01-1.73]) after adjustment for covariates. Further, compared with the first quartile of cystatin C, subjects in the last quartile had higher risk of lacunes (OR, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.05-3.76]), modified white matter hyperintensity burden (common OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.07-1.90]), and moderate-to-severe perivascular spaces (OR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.29-3.59]) but not cerebral microbleeds. The Mendelian randomization analysis showed that a genetically predicted higher cystatin C level was associated with increased risk of lacunar stroke (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06-1.27]).
Conclusions:
In this community-based study, we found a possible association between cystatin C and CSVD, especially for lacunes, that was independent of estimated glomerular filtration rate.
