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Reference values for cystatin C serum concentrations in children

A Bökenkamp1, M Domanetzki, R Zinck

  • 1Children's Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Germany.

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|April 16, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Serum cystatin C is a reliable marker for kidney function in children. Its stable reference range after age one simplifies monitoring renal health compared to creatinine.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Biomarkers
  • Renal Function Assessment

Background:

  • Cystatin C is an endogenous protein marker for glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
  • Serum creatinine is a traditional marker but shows age-dependent variations.
  • Establishing pediatric reference intervals for cystatin C is crucial for accurate GFR estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the reference interval for serum cystatin C concentrations in a pediatric population.
  • To compare the utility of cystatin C with creatinine for assessing renal function in children.

Main Methods:

  • Serum cystatin C measured by immunoturbidimetric assay in 258 children (1 day to 18 years).
  • Non-parametric calculation of reference intervals using 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles.
  • Concurrent measurement of serum creatinine for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • Cystatin C levels were highest in neonates (1.64-2.59 mg/l), decreasing rapidly in the first 4 months.
  • A stable reference interval of 0.7-1.38 mg/l for cystatin C was observed beyond the first year of life.
  • Serum creatinine levels showed a continuous increase with age, unlike cystatin C.

Conclusions:

  • Serum cystatin C offers a more stable and reliable marker for renal function in children over one year of age compared to creatinine.
  • Elevated cystatin C in infancy reflects immature renal function and lower GFR.
  • Cystatin C facilitates earlier and more accurate detection of abnormal renal function in pediatric patients.

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