![]() ![]() Chronic inflammation (in conditions such as lupus, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, lung disease, Parkinson’s, and HIV).Other factors that can slightly increase cystatin C include: The most common cause of high cystatin C levels is impaired kidney function, which can happen in various diseases, or a result of drugs such as chemotherapeutics. Work with your doctor or another health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis. CausesĬauses shown below are commonly associated with high cystatin C. Your doctor will interpret this test, taking into account your medical history, symptoms, and other tests. Higher than normal cystatin C levels mean that kidney function is likely reduced. īlood urea nitrogen ( BUN ), a breakdown product of protein metabolism, is also used to measure how well the kidneys are working. Cystatin C is often used with creatinine to estimate GFR. īecause neither cystatin C nor creatinine is perfect, sometimes they are both combined to access kidney function. Most people with chronic kidney disease can be diagnosed with two tests: a urine test to check for protein and a blood test (serum creatinine and or cystatin C) to estimate GFR. Thyroid issues (either low or high levels of thyroid hormones).Studies have found that there are factors that can affect cystatin C level regardless of the kidney function: It rises faster than creatinine, and therefore it can detect kidney injury faster.Creatinine, on the other hand, doesn’t increase until 50% of kidney function is lost. It can detect mild decreases in kidney function, known as “preclinical kidney dysfunction”.heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and AIDS). That’s why it can be used in people who lost muscle mass, such as the elderly and people with chronic disease (e.g. Its levels don’t depend on muscle mass, physical activity, or protein intake. ![]() It has several advantages over creatinine: Advantages and Disadvantages over Creatinine ProsĬystatin C can be used as a replacement for blood creatinine for the assessment of kidney function. Generally, higher cystatin C levels point to poor kidney function. The normal range of cystatin C is around 0.62 – 1.15 mg/L. On the other hand, researchers found that lower levels may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and aneurysms. That is why this molecule can tell us how well our kidneys are working.īecause kidney function is tightly interwoven with the function of other organs in the body, studies suggest that higher cystatin may also predict a higher risk of heart disease, cognitive dysfunction, and all-cause mortality. But if your kidneys are not working properly, cystatin C builds up in the blood. In healthy people, both the production and the breakdown of this protein happen at a relatively constant rate. Ĭystatin C is almost completely broken down in the kidneys (>99%). This protein plays a variety of roles: it’s involved in growth, bone metabolism, and studies suggest it protects the brain against injury and some neurodegenerative diseases. It is produced by most cells in the body and can be found in all bodily fluids. A plus sign next to the number “” means that the information is found within the full scientific study rather than the abstract.Ĭystatin C is important for monitoring kidney function, but is there more to this marker? Read on to uncover how cystatin C can impact your health.Ĭystatin C is a protein that inhibits the breakdown of other proteins. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at that each number in parentheses is a clickable link to peer-reviewed scientific studies. Our goal is to not have a single piece of inaccurate information on this website. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don't let them write for us again. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. Our science team is put through the strictest vetting process in the health industry and we often reject applicants who have written articles for many of the largest health websites that are deemed trustworthy. Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists.Īll of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. We are dedicated to providing the most scientifically valid, unbiased, and comprehensive information on any given topic. We believe that the most accurate information is found directly in the scientific source. SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. ![]()
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