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Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
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Published on: January 28, 2020

Prognostic value of serum cystatin C and its changes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Nannan Wu1, Guandong Li1, Wenjie Ma1

  • 1Department of Emergency, Changhai Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|August 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Serum cystatin C (Cys-C) levels and their changes predict mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Higher Cys-C and increases over time are linked to increased all-cause mortality risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Renal Function

Background:

  • Serum cystatin C (Cys-C) is a prognostic marker in cardiovascular disease.
  • Its role in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) outcomes, especially with normal or mildly impaired renal function, is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prognostic value of serum Cys-C concentration and its changes.
  • To predict all-cause mortality in STEMI patients with preserved renal function.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective observational study of 753 STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
  • Serum Cys-C measured at baseline and follow-up.
  • Patients stratified into tertiles based on Cys-C levels and changes.

Main Results:

  • Higher baseline and follow-up Cys-C levels, and greater Cys-C increase, were associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality.
  • Multivariable analysis confirmed elevated baseline Cys-C, follow-up Cys-C, and Cys-C change as independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum Cys-C and its increase over time independently predict higher mortality in STEMI patients.
  • Serial Cys-C measurements can improve risk stratification and monitoring of disease progression.
Abstract

Keywords:
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctionall-cause mortalitybiomarkercystatin Cdynamic changeprognosis

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