The complexity of kidney disease and diagnosing it - cystatin C, selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes and proteome regulation.

Estimation of kidney function is often part of daily clinical practice, mostly done by using the endogenous glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-markers creatinine or cystatin C. A recommendation to use both markers in parallel in 2010 has resulted in new knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of kidney disorders by the identification of a new set of kidney disorders, selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes. These syndromes, connected to strong increases in mortality and morbidity, are characterized by a selective reduction in the glomerular filtration of 5-30 kDa molecules, such as cystatin C, compared to the filtration of small molecules <1 kDa dominating the glomerular filtrate, for example water, urea and creatinine. At least two types of such disorders, shrunken or elongated pore syndrome, are possible according to the pore model for glomerular filtration. Selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes are prevalent in investigated populations, and patients with these syndromes often display normal measured GFR or creatinine-based GFR-estimates. The syndromes are characterized by proteomic changes promoting the development of atherosclerosis, indicating antibodies and specific receptor-blocking substances as possible new treatment modalities. Presently, the KDIGO guidelines for diagnosing kidney disorders do not recommend cystatin C as a general marker of kidney function and will therefore not allow the identification of a considerable number of patients with selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes. Furthermore, as cystatin C is uninfluenced by muscle mass, diet or variations in tubular secretion and cystatin C-based GFR-estimation equations do not require controversial race or sex terms, it is obvious that cystatin C should be a part of future KDIGO guidelines.

Cystatin C-based equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate do not require race or sex coefficients.

Estimation or measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is generally required for optimal treatment of patients. Plasma creatinine has been used for estimation of GFR since 1926 and plasma cystatin C since 1979. The creatinine level is strongly dependent upon muscle mass and as the average muscle mass of different populations may vary, creatinine-based GFR-estimating equations have since 1999 used more than 10 different race coefficients to improve the diagnostic performance of such equations. But 'race' cannot be determined by biological measurements and is thus an ill-defined biological entity and controversial as it involves self-reporting and social considerations. In contrast, cystatin C-levels are virtually independent of muscular mass and cystatin C-based GFR-estimating equations do not require race coefficients for reliable estimation of GFR. The use of cystatin C-based GFR-estimating equations, alone or in conjunction with creatinine-based GFR-estimating equations, is therefore highly recommended to eliminate the use of race coefficients in estimating GFR. Although sex is a more biology-oriented parameter than race, sex terms may in some cases be controversial, involving self-reporting and social considerations. However, sex terms are not required for adequate estimation of GFR using cystatin C-based equations.

Estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children. The average between a cystatin C- and a creatinine-based equation improves estimation of GFR in both children and adults and enables diagnosing Shrunken Pore Syndrome.

Estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults by using the average of values obtained by a cystatin C- (eGFRcystatin C) and a creatinine-based (eGFRcreatinine) equation shows at least the same diagnostic performance as GFR estimates obtained by equations using only one of these analytes or by complex equations using both analytes. Comparison of eGFRcystatin C and eGFRcreatinine plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of Shrunken Pore Syndrome, where low eGFRcystatin C compared to eGFRcreatinine has been associated with higher mortality in adults. The present study was undertaken to elucidate if this concept can also be applied in children. Using iohexol and inulin clearance as gold standard in 702 children, we studied the diagnostic performance of 10 creatinine-based, 5 cystatin C-based and 3 combined cystatin C-creatinine eGFR equations and compared them to the result of the average of 9 pairs of a eGFRcystatin C and a eGFRcreatinine estimate. While creatinine-based GFR estimations are unsuitable in children unless calibrated in a pediatric or mixed pediatric-adult population, cystatin C-based estimations in general performed well in children. The average of a suitable creatinine-based and a cystatin C-based equation generally displayed a better diagnostic performance than estimates obtained by equations using only one of these analytes or by complex equations using both analytes. Comparing eGFRcystatin and eGFRcreatinine may help identify pediatric patients with Shrunken Pore Syndrome.