Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
10:03

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Published on: June 27, 2025

136

The potential of cystatin C as a predictive biomarker in pulmonary hypertension

Anqi Duan1, Zhihua Huang1, Zhihui Zhao1

  • 1Center for Respiratory and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No.167 Beilishi Rd, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine
|August 26, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cystatin C effectively predicts prognosis in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Combining cystatin C with WHO Functional Class (WHO-FC) identifies high-risk patients, offering a non-invasive risk assessment tool.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Biomarker Research

Background:

  • Cystatin C is a recognized biomarker for renal dysfunction and cardiovascular risk.
  • Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition affecting the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
  • Accurate risk stratification is crucial for managing pre-capillary PH patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of cystatin C in non-invasive risk prediction for pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH).
  • To assess the correlation between cystatin C levels and hemodynamic parameters in PH patients.
  • To develop and validate a novel non-invasive risk stratification model for pre-capillary PH.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 398 pre-capillary PH patients with available cystatin C and hemodynamic data.
  • Right heart catheterization was used to obtain hemodynamic data.
  • Statistical analysis including correlation and multivariate regression was performed to assess prognostic value.

Main Results:

  • Cystatin C levels significantly correlated with key hemodynamic markers like cardiac index, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion.
  • High cystatin C levels independently predicted a poor prognosis in pre-capillary PH patients.
  • A novel non-invasive risk model combining cystatin C and WHO Functional Class (WHO-FC) demonstrated comparable predictive capacity to existing invasive models.

Conclusions:

  • Cystatin C is associated with disease severity and prognosis in pre-capillary PH.
  • A combination of elevated cystatin C and advanced WHO-FC effectively identifies patients at high risk of clinical worsening.
  • This non-invasive approach offers a valuable tool for risk stratification in pre-capillary PH management.
Abstract

Keywords:
BiomarkerCystatin CPulmonary hypertensionRenal functionRisk prediction

More Related Videos

Monitoring Neutrophil Elastase and Cathepsin G Activity in Human Sputum Samples09:23

Monitoring Neutrophil Elastase and Cathepsin G Activity in Human Sputum Samples

Published on: May 21, 2021

16.2K
The Importance of Correct Protein Concentration for Kinetics and Affinity Determination in Structure-function Analysis19:16

The Importance of Correct Protein Concentration for Kinetics and Affinity Determination in Structure-function Analysis

Published on: March 17, 2010

20.7K

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
119
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis01:23

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder, significantly affects the function of exocrine glands. This genetically inherited disease is characterized by the production of thick and sticky mucus, which can severely affect various organs and systems in the body.
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
278
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
202
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis01:30

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe health condition in which the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increases to 25 mmHg or more, even when the body is at rest. This high pressure in the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, can lead to right heart failure, and significantly affect the overall quality of life.
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
222
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic...
194