Serum Cystatin C compared with conventional renal function tests: A study in patients with pre-eclampsia

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of serum cystatin C in assessment of renal function and compare with conventional renal function tests. Methods : For this study, 30 females with pre-eclampsia (cases) and 30 healthy pregnant females (controls) were included from antenatal clinics. Venous blood samples were collected for estimation of cystatin C, creatinine, urea, uric acid, lipid profile, protein, albumin, blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin. Spot urine samples were taken for measurement of microalbumin and creatinine. Appropriate statistical tests were applied for significance of difference. Results: Serum levels of cystatin C and uric acid were significantly higher in cases ( P value <0.001 and 0.002 , respectively) compared to controls. Urinary microalbumin-creatinine ratio also showed highly significant difference between cases and controls. However, renal function markers like urea and creatinine did not show any difference between the healthy pregnant females and pre-eclamptic patients. Conclusion : Serum cystatin C appears to be a superior marker of renal function compared to creatinine in patients with pre-eclampsia and showed be routinely included in the investigative work-up of these patients.