Cystatin C-based equations: Enhancing accuracy in kidney function tests for type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Approximately 30%-40% of individuals with diabetes develop chronic kidney disease during their lifetime, and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a high risk of developing and progressing to this condition. The two comorbidities represent a lethal combination that exacerbates both diseases. It is crucial to measure the glomerular filtration rate and to monitor and assess the renal functionality of these patients. Serum creatinine, the traditional marker of kidney assessment, has been shown to be susceptible to too many variables that can significantly alter the final estimated glomerular filtration rate outcome. Cystatin C-based formulas appear to have reasonable accuracy in this population and help to ensure better tailored therapy and renal assessment. The purpose of this editorial was to provide an examination of the advantage of using cystatin C as a valid marker for determining estimated glomerular filtration rate, free from any interfering factors, allowing a more accurate assessment of renal function.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic kidney disease; Cystatin C; Glomerular filtration rate; Chronic kidney disease

Core Tip: It is crucial to accurately determine the correct renal function of patients with type 2 diabetes. The use of creatinine alone has several limitations that can lead to an imprecise evaluation of the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Cystatin C appears to effectively mitigate the biases associated with the traditional determination of renal function using creatinine, and cystatin C-based equations provide a more precise and accurate method for estimating renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly in clinical contexts where muscle mass can be a harbinger of doubt and misunderstanding.