[Serum cystatin C: a practical alternative for renal function evaluation?]

Assessment of Renal Function in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Cisplatin: Different Biomarkers and Acute Kidney Injury Classifications

Cisplatin is associated with dose-limiting nephrotoxicity, and the timely detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) can affect morbimortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the tools for monitoring renal function in AKI. This was a retrospective, cohort study. Cisplatin-treated patients with head and neck cancer were included. Nephrotoxicity was assessed using serum creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, serum electrolytic alterations, and plasma kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). The toxicity severity was classified according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and AKI was classified by Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) and Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). A total of 81 participants were included, of whom only 32 did not have AKI. Almost 90% of participants had a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate five (D5) days after chemotherapy. The AKI estimate differs between AKIN and RIFLE; more participants were diagnosed by the RIFLE at D5, 19.5% versus 2.4% by AKIN, and fifteen had a discordance between these classifications. All laboratory markers showed significant changes on D5. KIM-1 appeared a possible biomarker when considering CTCAE or AKIN classifications (p < 0.05 on D5), but not when RIFLE classification was used (p = 0.0780). Further studies may seek to understand the profiles of different biomarkers together.

Association Between Increased Levels of Cystatin C and the Development of Cardiovascular Events or Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Cystatin C seems promising for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between high levels of cystatin C and the development of cardiovascular events or mortality.

METHODS

The articles were selected in the Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scielo databases. The eligibility criteria were prospective cohort observational trials that assessed the association of high serum levels of cystatin C with the development of cardiovascular events or mortality in individuals with normal renal function. Only studies that evaluated the mortality outcome compared the fourth with the first quartile of cystatin C and performed multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis were included in the meta-analysis. A p value < 0,05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Among the 647 articles found, 12 were included in the systematic review and two in the meta-analysis. The risk of development of adverse outcomes was assessed by eight studies using the hazard ratio. Among them, six studies found an increased risk of cardiovascular events or mortality. The multivariate regression analysis was performed by six studies, and the risk of developing adverse outcomes remained significant after the analysis in four of these studies. The result of the meta-analysis [HR = 2.28 (1.70-3.05), p < 0.001] indicated that there is a significant association between high levels of cystatin C and the risk of mortality in individuals with normal renal function.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant association between high levels of cystatin C and the development of cardiovascular events or mortality in individuals with normal renal function.

Anthropometric measurements and markers of renal function in adults and older adults

Objective: To determine whether anthropometric indicators are associated with markers of renal function in adults and older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 279 adults and older adults attending eight primary healthcare units in eastern Goiânia, Góias. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data were collected using a standard questionnaire. Body mass index was categorized as overweight (≥25 kg/m²) or non-overweight. Waist circumference was classified as normal or high; chronic kidney disease was defined as a glomerular filtration rate below 60 mL/minutes/1.73 m²; micro/macroalbuminuria was defined as an albumin/creatinine ratio above 30 mg/g. The association between anthropometric indicators and renal function markers was assessed by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Chronic kidney disease was present in 8.9% and micro/macroalbuminuria in 34.8% of the sample. The prevalence of overweight was 57.0%. Waist circumference and body mass index were positively associated with glomerular filtration rate, characterized as glomerular hyperfiltration. Microalbuminuria was positively associated with body mass index in women. Conclusion: The prevalences of chronic kidney disease and overweight were high in the study population. Overweight was positively associated with glomerular filtration rate.