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Serum cystatin C levels in children with sickle cell disease

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 August 2006

This article has been updated

Abstract

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) may develop kidney dysfunction from childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine the value of serum cystatin C as a marker for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children with SCD, as compared to serum creatinine and creatinine clearance (CrCl). Twenty children (ages 9–21, ten males) with SCD with and without albuminuria were studied. The mean serum cystatin for the whole group was 0.89 mg/l (0.5–1.7 mg/l). Mean serum cystatin C was significantly different among the children with proteinuria (n=4), microalbuminuria (n=5), and without albuminuria (n=11) (1.25 mg/l, 0.84 mg/l, and 0.78 mg/l, respectively). The mean GFR derived from serum cystatin was significantly different among these subgroups, becoming abnormal in the proteinuric cohort (63 ml/min per 1.73 m2), in contrast to 94 for the microalbuminuric, and 103 for the normal subgroups. Serum creatinine (mean: 0.58 mg/dl, range: 0.3–1.1) did not change significantly with the level of albuminuria. Mean CrCl remained normal to increased within the subgroups, (133 ml/min per 1.73 m2 for those with proteinuria, 144 for those with microalbuminuria, and 163 for the normal subgroup). We conclude that serum cystatin C correlates with the level of albuminuria and may be a reliable method to measure renal function in SCD.

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Change history

  • 01 August 2006

    In the introduction, the expanded form of CSSCD should read Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) and not Comprehensive Study of Sickle Cell Disease.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank ARUP Laboratories for the cystatin C analysis and Dr. Astrid Mack and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Miami-Dade County Chapter, for providing economic support for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Hematology, University of Miami, 1611 NW 12th Avenue, ACC West, Rm 514, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Ofelia Alvarez & Dale Wright

  2. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Gaston Zilleruelo & Brenda Montane

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Gabriela Lopez-Mitnik

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  1. Ofelia Alvarez
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  2. Gaston Zilleruelo
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  3. Dale Wright
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  4. Brenda Montane
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  5. Gabriela Lopez-Mitnik
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Correspondence to Ofelia Alvarez.

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Alvarez, O., Zilleruelo, G., Wright, D. et al. Serum cystatin C levels in children with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Nephrol 21, 533–537 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0033-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0033-6

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