Assessment of Serum Cystatin C as a Marker of Kidney Function in Children
Condition: Kidney Disease
MeSH terms: Kidney Diseases
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to assess serum cystatin C as a marker of kidney function
      (glomerular filtration rate, GFR) in children aged 2-14. The individual production rate and
      possible extra renal elimination of cystatin C based on body composition data is included to
      develop new algorithms to estimate GFR.

      Furthermore, day-to-day variation on serum cystatin C is investigated.
    

Detailed description: 
      Today, children's kidney function (glomerular filtration rate, GFR) can be monitored by two
      methods:

        1. indirectly by serum creatinine, or

        2. directly by injection of a radioactive substance followed by several blood samples.

      The first method is inaccurate with many drawbacks, whereas the latter is precise but
      time-consuming and unpleasant for the child. Therefore, there is a need for a new method for
      investigating GFR in children.

      Serum cystatin C is a small protein that is produced with a constant rate in all nucleated
      cells in the body. It meets many of the characteristics of an ideal marker of GFR because of
      the way it is excreted in the kidneys. However, earlier studies have not proven serum
      cystatin C to be convincingly better than serum creatinine. Why? If there is considerable
      extra renal elimination, serum cystatin C alone isn't enough to estimate GFR. Therefore, the
      individual production rate and possible extra renal elimination of cystatin C are included in
      this study. To assess these factors, the children are submitted to bioelectrical impedance
      spectroscopy (BIS) to estimate their body composition, including body cell mass as cystatin C
      is produced in all nucleated cells. To validate the BIS data, dual energy x-ray
      absorptiometry (DEXA) will be conducted on 100 of the included children.

      Based on serum cystatin C and the individual, age-corrected extra renal elimination rate of
      cystatin C, new algorithms to calculate GFR can be developed.

      Furthermore, day-to-day variation in serum cystatin C and BIS data, which is expected to be
      low, is investigated in 100 of the included children.

      Hypotheses:

        1. Day-to-day variation on serum cystatin C is low.

        2. Serum cystatin C raises parallel to falling GFR with time, which means that serum
           cystatin C can be used to monitor changes in kidney function in each patient.

        3. Based on body composition, regression analysis and serum cystatin C values, GFR can be
           estimated in children aged 2-14.

        4. GFR calculated as stated above is a more precise measurement of kidney function and
           changes in kidney function than GFR estimated from serum creatinine.

        5. Data of body composition estimated by BIS do not deviate from data estimated by DEXA

        6. Day-to-day variation in data for body composition measured by BIS is low.

      The project includes 200 children aged 2-14 who are referred for routine examination of GFR
      in two Departments of Nuclear Medicine.
    

Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Children aged 2-14 years referrede for GFR measurement
      
Keywords: Glomerular Filtration Rate; Serum Cystatin C; Body Composition; bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy