title: Cystatin C and preeclampsia: a case control study.
abstract: Pregnancy increases plasma cystatin C, but levels are much higher in preeclampsia. Previous studies have not quantified preeclampsia risk with varying cystatin C concentrations or adjusted for confounders. We performed a case-control study of 100 preeclampsia cases and 100 random pregnancies uncomplicated by hypertension (controls). All women were free of pre-existing hypertension, diabetes, and renal disease, and gave birth to singletons. Plasma cystatin C was measured at delivery. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of preeclampsia by quartiles (based on control distribution) of maternal plasma cystatin C were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models. Mean cystatin C levels were elevated in preeclampsia cases compared with controls (1.38 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.03 mg/L, p < 0.01). Compared to the first quartile, the estimated risk of preeclampsia was increased by approximately 12-fold for the fourth quartile, after adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, physical inactivity, smoking, and gestational age. Increased plasma levels of cystatin C were independently associated with preeclampsia. Further studies are required to assess the role of cystatin C levels in preeclampsia severity and maternal and fetal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-3628, USA. noraf@unc.edu
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins