The early diagnostic value of serum cystatin C for detecting renal dysfunction in patients with acute pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the early diagnostic value of serum cystatin C for detecting renal dysfunction in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods 24-hour creatinine clearance (CCr) and serum levels of cystatin C (Cys C) and creatinine (SCr) were measured in 72 patients. The diagnostic value of Cys C was evaluated by 2 test, Pearson correlation test, and ROC curve. Results CCr declined in 28 out of 72 AP patients. Of these 28 patients, 23 had an increased level of Cys C, whereas 16 had an elevation in SCr level. The evaluating efficiency of Cys C for CCr was superior to that for SCr (P 0.05). Both Cys C and SCr significantly inversely correlated with CCr (CysC: r = -0.868,P 0.001; SCr: r = -0.604, P 0.001); however, coefficient of Cyst C to CCr was obviously higher than that of SCr. ROC curve showed cystatin C was diagnostically superior to creatinine (area under the curve [AUC] for cystatin C 0.884; AUC for creatinine 0.687). Conclusions Cystatin C, as compared with SCr, is a more accurate, sensitive marker for renal dysfunction in AP. Routine detection of Cys C level in AP patient play an active role in effectively preventing and treating acute renal failure in patients with acute pancreatitis.