Lever
Lifestyle
- Regular exercise
- Adequate hydration
- Blood pressure management
Blutwerte · Marker
Cystatin C
Cystatin C · CysC
Nierenwerte
- Einheit:
- mg/L
- Abbreviation
- CysC
Cystatin C measures the concentration of a cysteine protease inhibitor in the blood, reflecting glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Reference Ranges
Reference
0.6–1.2mg/L
0.6
1.2
LowNormalHigh
Reference
Unit · mg/LReference ranges may vary slightly based on age and sex; generally higher in older adults.
Overview
Übersicht
Cystatin C (CysC) is a cysteine protease inhibitor that serves as a biomarker for assessing kidney function. It is produced by all nucleated cells and is freely filtered by the glomeruli, making it a reliable indicator of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Researchers have found that CysC levels are less influenced by muscle mass compared to creatinine, providing a more accurate reflection of kidney function, particularly in individuals with varying muscle mass. Clinically, Cystatin C is an important biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD), offering advantages over traditional markers like serum creatinine. Elevated CysC levels are associated with reduced kidney function and have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular events and uncontrolled hypertension. In the context of athletic performance and biohacking, Cystatin C can be used to monitor kidney health, especially in those engaging in high-protein diets or intense physical activity, which can affect kidney function. However, researchers observed that CysC levels can be influenced by factors such as inflammation and certain genetic variants, which may confound results. It is crucial to standardize testing conditions and consider potential interfering factors when interpreting CysC levels.
Klinische Bedeutung
Elevated Cystatin C levels indicate reduced kidney function and are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increased cardiovascular risk. Lower levels are generally not clinically significant but may reflect improved kidney function.
Dynamics
Trend Interpretation
Rising Values
Progressively rising values suggest worsening kidney function. Re-test within 4 weeks if outside optimal range.
Falling Values
Progressively falling values may indicate improving kidney function.
Re-test Interval
4 weeks if outside optimal range
Etiology
Causes — High & Low
Cause
Elevated Levels
- Chronic kidney disease
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease
- Inflammation
- Cerebrovascular disorders
Cause
Low Levels
- Improved kidney function
- Low muscle mass
- Overhydration
- Certain genetic variants
Protocol
How to Optimize
Lever
Nutrition
- Balanced diet with controlled protein intake
- Reduced sodium intake
Note:
Consult a healthcare provider before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes, especially if kidney disease is present.
Testing Guidelines
✓Fasting Not Required
✓Not Time-Sensitive
Testing Frequency
Annually for healthy adults, more frequently if monitoring kidney disease.
Interfering Factors
- Inflammation
- Certain medications
- Genetic variants
Open Research Questions
Current research suggests that reference ranges for serum cystatin C may vary significantly across populations, and optimal targets for its use in chronic kidney disease and hypertension management remain debated. Researchers have not yet established standardized protocols for integrating cystatin C into clinical practice, particularly regarding its role in assessing cardiovascular risk. Additionally, unanswered clinical questions include the precise mechanisms by which cystatin C influences cerebrovascular disorders and its potential as a therapeutic target.
21 Research Publications
926
Total Citations
7
Human/RCT
4.0
Avg. Influence
2025
Latest
Sort
Filter
01Top
#01
Creatinine: From physiology to clinical application.
ReviewInfluence12.0
365
This review examined the limitations of serum creatinine as a biomarker for kidney function and discussed alternative biomarkers, including cystatin C. Researchers found that understanding the shortcomings of creatinine can improve the interpretation of kidney function tests.
02Top
#02
Cystatin C as a biomarker of chronic kidney disease: latest developments.
ReviewInfluence8.0
178
This study examined the role of serum cystatin C as a biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Researchers found that cystatin C is an early and accurate indicator of CKD, especially useful when traditional markers like creatinine are inadequate. The study emphasizes the need for standardized measurement methods to enhance data generalizability.
03Top
#03
Cystatin C: a kidney function biomarker.
Onopiuk Anna, et al. · Advances in clinical chemistry · 2015
ReviewInfluence3.0
157
This study discussed cystatin C as a kidney function biomarker, highlighting its advantages over traditional indicators like serum creatinine. Researchers found that cystatin C levels are independent of factors such as age and muscle mass, making it a reliable marker for assessing glomerular filtration rate.
Key findings
- 01Cystatin C is a protein that can serve as a more accurate marker for kidney filtration compared to traditional methods.
- 02Its levels remain consistent regardless of age, gender, or muscle mass, which are common variables that can skew results.
- 03The review discusses the biological role of cystatin C and the methods used to measure its concentration in the blood.
04
#04
Cystatin C: A Primer for Pharmacists.
ReviewInfluence4.0
47
Researchers provided an overview of cystatin C for pharmacists, emphasizing its role in kidney function assessment for medication management. They found that cystatin C can serve as an alternative to serum creatinine, particularly in populations where creatinine is less reliable.
05
#05
Exploring Renal Function Assessment: Creatinine, Cystatin C, and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Focused on the European Kidney Function Consortium Equation.
ReviewInfluence1.0
46
Researchers explored the characteristics and clinical utility of serum creatinine and cystatin C in assessing renal function. They found that both biomarkers are essential for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), with specific advantages and disadvantages in their application. The study also highlighted the importance of age-dependent reference intervals for accurate assessment.
06
#06
Detecting Neonatal AKI by Serum Cystatin C.
Xu Xin, et al. · Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN · 2023
HumanInfluence5.0
39
This multicenter study investigated cystatin C as a biomarker for neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI). Researchers found that cystatin C is a sensitive indicator for detecting AKI in neonates, identifying significantly more cases than traditional creatinine criteria.
Key findings
- 01Cys-C detected 6.5 times more cases of AKI compared to traditional creatinine criteria.
- 02Neonates identified with AKI by Cys-C alone had a nearly three times higher risk of in-hospital death.
- 03Cys-C levels remained stable across different gestational ages and birth weights, making it a reliable marker.
07
#07
Biomarkers for sarcopenia, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance: an umbrella review.
Liu Gaoming, et al. · Journal of translational medicine · 2025
Meta-Analysis
26
This umbrella review identified biomarkers related to sarcopenia, including the creatinine to cystatin C ratio. Researchers found that this ratio is frequently used and demonstrates moderate diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia. The review also noted that inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in sarcopenia patients, indicating potential therapeutic applications.
Key findings
- 01The creatinine to cystatin C ratio is the most commonly used diagnostic biomarker for sarcopenia, showing moderate accuracy.
- 02Inflammatory biomarkers like interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were found to be elevated in patients with sarcopenia.
- 03Most biomarkers studied showed weak correlations with sarcopenia, indicating a need for further research.
08
#08
Cystatin C in Cerebrovascular Disorders.
Zhang Yaru & Sun Li · Current neurovascular research · 2017
ReviewInfluence1.0
22
This review focused on the role of cystatin C in cerebrovascular disorders. Researchers observed that cystatin C may contribute to various mechanisms in these diseases, including aggregation with Amyloid-β and inducing inflammation. The findings suggest cystatin C could serve as a novel biomarker for cerebrovascular conditions.
Key findings
- 01Researchers observed that the CysC variant can aggregate and interact with harmful proteins like Amyloid-β.
- 02They found that an imbalance between CysC and certain enzymes may contribute to cerebrovascular issues.
- 03The study noted CysC's role in promoting inflammation and autophagy, which are important in brain health.
09
#09
Role of cystatin C in urogenital malignancy.
ReviewInfluence1.0
20
This review explored the potential role of cystatin C in urogenital malignancies. Researchers found that cystatin C may serve as a promising biomarker for early tumor identification and prognosis. The study emphasizes the need for further investigation into cystatin C's clinical applications in cancer.
10
#10
Urine MMP7 as a kidney injury biomarker.
Review
15
This study presented findings on matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) as a kidney injury biomarker, alongside cystatin C. Researchers observed that urinary cystatin C combined with MMP-7 could provide insights into tubular injury in kidney diseases, indicating its potential as a diagnostic tool.
Clinical Trials (1)
1
Total Trials
35
Total Enrolled
Is Permissive Hypotension Truly Harmless? Early Biomarker Evidence of Subclinical Kidney Injury in Rhinologic Surgery
NCT07328620COMPLETED
Sponsor
Gazi University
Enrollment
35
Started
2025
Primary outcome
Change in serum NGAL and cystatin C concentrations indicating biomarker-defined subclinical renal stress
Acute Kidney InjuryHypotension
Publication Trend
Research publications about Cystatin C over time
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