CYSTATIN С FOR ASSESSMENT OF RENAL GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Aim. To determine the diagnostic value of blood serum cystatin C level as a marker of kidney damage in children and adolescents. Materials and methods. Twenty nine patients (aged 4-18 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus, complicated by diabetic nephropathy (DN) and 30 healthy persons of the same age were examined. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was assessed according to creatinine serum levels (Schwartz formula) and cystatin C (Hoek equation). Results. Serum concentration of creatinine in all patients ranged in referent values; decrease in GFR by Schwartz formula was detected only in one patient (3,4 %). Blood serum cystatin C level in DN patients was significantly higher than in healthy children; GFR values calculated using cystatin C were reliably lower than by Schwartz formula. Children’s and adolescent’s DN in 100 % of cases is accompanied by GFR fall. Conclusions. Assessment of cystatin C serum concentration permits to diagnose early changes in GFR when children have diabetic damage of kidneys. This index is significantly more precise GFR marker than serum creatinine.