title: Gender does not influence cystatin C concentrations in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current data are conflicting about the influence of gender on cystatin C concentrations. The goal of this study was to determine the reference interval for serum cystatin C in normal Brazilian subjects, taking into account the influence of gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven healthy volunteers, aged 18-70 years, 44% male, had glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured using a (51)Cr-EDTA method and estimated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation. Serum cystatin C was measured using a turbidimetric method, and creatinine by the Jaffe method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum cystatin C was not significantly different between males and females, 0.62 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.65 +/- 0.12 mg/L, respectively (p = 0.26). However, median serum creatinine was significantly higher in men [97 (80-115) vs. 80 (53-88) micromol/L; p = 0.0001]. There were also no significant differences between genders with respect to GFR measured using (51)Cr-EDTA (103 +/- 14 for males and 106 +/- 19 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for females, p = 0.47), and estimated with the MDRD equation (86 +/- 12 vs. 83 +/- 16 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively, p = 0.24).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no effect of gender on serum cystatin C, as well as on measured and estimated GFR.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. leticiasweinert@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Letícia Schwerz
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Weinert
authors.forename: Aline Bodanese
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Prates
authors.forename: Fernando Barcellos
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.forename: Marina Zerwes
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: Joíza Lins
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Sandra Pinho
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Silveiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D055316:Cystatin C; D004492:Edetic Acid; D003404:Creatinine