cystatin C (cystatinC)

Last reviewed 08/2021

  • Cystatin C
    • is a single chain basic protein with low molecular weight (13 kD) produced by all nucleated human cells, whose circulating concentrations can be easily determined by an automated particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method
      • mainly filtrated by the kidney
      • other factors affecting the production of Cystatin C include the use of systemic glucocorticoids and thyroid dysfunction
      • Cystatin C and microalbuminuria are considered early markers of kidney damage
      • Cystatin C could be affected by changes in body composition. Indeed, fat-free mass, a parameter inversely related to age, affects CysC level, and in older patients with chronic kidney disease CysC-based GFR estimation improves when fat-free mass is taken into account (1)

Reference: