What is cystatin C?
Cystatin C are proteins that are secreted from all cells in the body and are filtered by the kidneys.
Why analyze cystatin C?
Cystatin C measures the level in the blood, which can show how your kidneys are doing and whether you have reduced kidney function.
What can an elevated value of cystatin C mean?
A high value of cystatin C may indicate poorer kidney function, as it may mean that the kidneys are not filtering out cystatin C as they should. An increased value can also be obtained if you have a cortisone treatment, are pregnant or have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).
What can a low value of cystatin C mean?
A low value of cystatin C is unusual but can be due to an untreated hypothyroidism, underfunction of the thyroid gland, and can also give a falsely high eGFR.
Symptoms of reduced kidney function
The symptoms of chronic kidney failure, or chronic kidney failure, develop slowly. They can only appear when kidney function becomes so impaired that waste products begin to accumulate in the blood, then they can express themselves like this:
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- fatigue
- itching
- impaired muscle power.
