title: Clinical utility of serum cystatin C in predicting coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited data regarding the clinical utility of cystatin C in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of cystatin C for the presence and severity of CAD and the association between this protein and other biochemical risk factors for atherosclerosis in patients with suspected CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four patients with CAD, and 92 patients without CAD but with cardiovascular risk factors, were included in this study. Echocardiography and other pertinent laboratory examinations were performed. Subjects were divided into four groups according to their cystatin C quartile. Cystatin C groups were analyzed for the association with CAD characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients with CAD increased as the quartile of cystatin C increased, and there was a remarkable difference between quartiles (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed independent predictors of incident CAD as cystatin C, hs-CRP, eGFR, HDL cholesterol and SBP (p = 0.005, p = 0.027, p = 0.017, p = 0.014 and p = 0.001, respectively). Moreover, cystatin C concentration was significantly correlated with CAD severity score (b = 0.258, p < 0.01). A cut-off value of 0.82 mg/L for cystatin C predicted incident CAD with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.5% and 75.0% respectively. Cystatin C concentration also correlated well with the atherosclerotic biochemical risk factors like homocysteine, creatinine and hs-CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cystatin C could be a useful laboratory tool in predicting the presence and severity of CAD in daily practice. It also correlates significantly with biochemical risk factors for CAD, namely homocysteine, low HDL and CRP.
authors.affiliation: Adana Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Adana, Turkey. mevlutkoc78@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Batur
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaarslan
authors.forename: Gülcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abali
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D055316:Cystatin C; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein