title: How to understand the association between cystatin C levels and cardiovascular disease: Imbalance, counterbalance, or consequence?
abstract: The association of cystatin C with renal function has been studied for more than 25 years. Cystatin C has been described to have a better diagnostic performance than creatinine to assess renal function, particularly to detect small reductions in glomerular filtration rate. Recently, cystatin C has emerged as a strong predictor of incident or recurrent cardiovascular events and adverse outcomes in patients without kidney disease. Furthermore, it has been suggested that cystatin C concentrations are directly related to both inflammation and atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, the link between inflammation, atherogenesis, cardiovascular risk, and cystatin C is still poorly understood. This brief report discusses recent data, contrasting findings and possible mechanisms involved in this interaction.
authors.affiliation: Kidney Disease Prevention Centre, Clinical Chemistry Service, Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil. Electronic address: jvlsalgado@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: João Victor
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Kidney Disease Prevention Centre, Cardiology Service, Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francival Leite
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardete Jorge
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Salgado
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055316:Cystatin C
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cystatin C; Cysteine protease; Inflammation; Kidney disease