Serum Cystatin C Measurement in Lupus Nephritis Patients: Its Correlation with Clinical and Histopathological Findings

Abstract

Abstract Introduction To investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C levels and disease activity, renal function test, and histopathological findings in patients with lupus nephritis that did not receive any previous treatment. Methods. 20 patients with lupus nephritis and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Before initiation of spesific treatment, clinical and laboratory findings including serum creatinine, cystatin C, daily proteinuria and Cockcroft and Gault (C-G) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation in adults creatinine clearances (CrCl), as well as histopathological activity and chronicity indices and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) were evaluated. Results.Serum creatinine, cystatin C, C-G and MDRD CrCls in the patients with lupus nephritis and controls were comparable. Both serum creatinine and cystatin C levels positively correlated with activity index and SLEDAI. There was a negative correlation between C-G CrCl with activity index and MDRD CrCl with activity index and SLEDAI. Conclusions.Our findings suggest that in lupus nephritis measuring the cystatin C level before renal biopsy is performed can not provide a more beneficial predictor than creatinine.

Keywords

• creatinine clearance
• disease activity index
• histopathological findings
• serum creatinine
• serum cystatin c
• systemic lupus erythematosus