Comparing Cystatin C and Kim 1 to Creatinine in the Assessment of Kidney Injury in Sickle Cell Patients

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood genetic disorders resulting in an abnormality in the oxygencarrying protein hemoglobin found in red blood cells.This study was carried out to compare Cystatin C and KIM 1 to creatinine in the assessment of kidney injury in sickle cell patients attending the Sickle cell Department of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria.A total of one hundred and four (104) individuals were recruited for this study comprising of 83 (79.81%) individuals who had history of sickle cell (subjects) and 21 (20.19%)individuals without sickle cell disease (control).Blood samples were collected from each subjects into plain bottle from which serum was separated and stored at -20 0 C. Creatinine was determined spectrophotometrically using Jaffe's method, while KIM 1 and Cystatin C levels were determined using ELISA.Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and significant difference was pegged at p<0.05.From the results obtained, the mean ± SD of KMI 1 (pg/mL) in crisis subjects, steady subjects and control was 1.58±0.84,1.44±0.97and 0.67±0.42,BMI (kg/m 2 ) was 17.38±4.98,21.42±2.20 and 22.21±1.77,Creatinine (mg/dl) was 2.45±1.80,1.13±0.46and 0.83±0.37,while Cystatin C (mmol/L) was 214.00±103.84,194.12±132.96and 55.89±17.21respectively.Serum Cystatin C and KIM 1 levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in both Steady and Crisis Subjects when compared with control.Serum creatinine levels was significantly higher (p<0.05) in crisis subjects compared with control.The research conclude that Kidney injury is a hallmark of Sickle cell Disease and that that Cystatin C and KIM 1 are better markers of Kidney Injury in Sickle Cell patients than creatinine.