Serum Cystatin C for Prediction of Dialysis Requirement or Death in Acute Kidney Injury: A Comparative Study

Background

Serum cystatin C has emerged as a new and potentially more reliable marker of kidney function. However, its utility and performance in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly for the prediction of dialysis requirement, is not well known.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Settings & Participants

Adult patients with AKI enrolled at 2 academic medical centers, at time of nephrology consultation.

Predictors

Serum cystatin C (primary predictor), serum creatinine, and serum urea nitrogen levels and 24-hour urine output measured at enrollment.

Outcomes

The composite of dialysis requirement or in-hospital death.

Covariates

Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, liver disease, sepsis, and mechanical ventilation.

Results

200 participants were enrolled for this analysis. Mean age was 65 years, 55% were men, and mean APACHE II score was 20. In unadjusted analyses, increases in serum cystatin C (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36 to 2.59), serum creatinine (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.09), and serum urea nitrogen levels (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.34 to 2.54) were associated with a higher odds (per 1-SD increase) for the composite outcome, whereas greater urine output (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.80) was associated with lower odds. These associations persisted after adjustment for APACHE II score. The addition of serum cystatin C, serum creatinine, and serum urea nitrogen levels or urine output to a basic model entailing APACHE II score, liver disease, sepsis, and assisted mechanical ventilation improved its prediction, evidenced by increases in areas under a receiver operator characteristic curve from 0.816 to 0.829, 0.826, 0.837, and 0.836, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between each of these models.

Limitations

Observational study, single serum cystatin C measurement.

Conclusion

In patients with AKI, serum cystatin C level performs similarly to serum creatinine level, serum urea nitrogen level, and urine output for predicting dialysis requirement or in-hospital death. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Index Words: Acute kidney injury, acute renal failure, biomarker, serum, cystatin C, creatinine, serum urea nitrogen, urine output, epidemiology, prognosis, dialysis, in-hospital death