Cystatin C as a Predictor for Diabetes according to Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels in Korean Patients

Cystatin C is entirely filtered by the kidney glomerulus and metabolized by the proximal tubule, and it is mainly used as a biomarker of renal function. It was first proposed by Anders Grubb as a potential alternative to be used as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that could overcome the known limitations of serum creatinine 1, and has been investigated for about 30 years. Cystatin C is less influenced by demographic characteristics such age, gender, race, muscle mass, heath status, and drugs than creatinine 2. Most studies have shown the associations of cystatin C and creatinine with longitudinally adverse outcomes of renal disease such as end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart failure, and death 3. In addition, three recent researches have reported interesting results regarding cystatin C in kidney function 4,5,6. These had an impact on the 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline and led to its widespread clinical use.