Serum Cystatin C as a Biomarker for Early Diabetic Kidney Disease and Dyslipidemia in Young Type 1 Diabetes Patients

Background and objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of serum cystatin C in the early diagnosis of renal injury and its association with dyslipidemia in young T1D patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 779 subjects were evaluated for kidney function by estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on serum creatinine (eGFRcreat) and cystatin C (eGFRcys). Results: The median age of study subjects was 16.2 years (2.1;26.4), diabetes duration—5.3 years (0.51;24.0). The median of HbA1c was 8% (5.2;19.9) (64 mmol/mol (33.3;194)); 24.2% of participants had HbA1c < 7% (53 mmol/mol). Elevated albumin excretion rate was found in 13.5% of subjects. The median of cystatin C was 0.8 mg/L (0.33;1.71), the median of creatinine—63 µmol/L (6;126). The median of eGFRcys was lower than eGFRcreat (92 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. 101 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001). A total of 30.2% of all patients were classified as having worse kidney function when using cystatin C vs. creatinine for eGFR calculation. Linear correlations were found between cystatin C and HbA1c, r = −0.088, p < 0.05, as well as cystatin C and HDL, r = −0.097, p < 0.01. Conclusions: This study showed that cystatin C might be used as an additional biomarker of early kidney injury in young patients with T1D.