Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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CYSTATIN C, A LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT PROTEIN IN CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

OTILIA MICLE1, SIMONA IOANA VICAS2*, IOANA RATIU3, LAURA VICAS4, MARIANA MURESAN1

1.University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Oradea, Romania
2.University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, Oradea, Romania
3.University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Department of Internal Medicine, Oradea, Romania
4.University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Department of Pharmacy, Oradea, Romania

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Cystatin C is a protein with a low molecular weight of 13 kDa, a member of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor family, produced at a constant rate by all nucleated cells. There are few studies of serum cystatin C levels in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to measure the cystatin C levels in patients with chronic renal failure, before and after undergoing haemodialysis, and to assess the usefulness of the test in these patients. Our research was performed on 48 patients (23 females and 25 males) with chronic renal failure. The serum obtained was used for the evaluation of creatinine, urea and cystatin C before and after dialysis. The values were compared to those obtained from a number of 75 healthy individuals. Cystatin C was determined using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Cystatin C levels in pre-dialyzed patients (6.237 ± 1.156 mg/L) were significantly increased compared to control patients (0.787 ± 0.092 mg/L), (p < 0.001). After dialysis, cystatin C levels remained also increased (6.334 ± 1.610 mg/L). Cystatin C levels in chronic renal failure patients did not decrease after dialysis. Therefore, serum cystatin C cannot be used for monitoring dialysis efficiency.