The Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM) provide a vital platform for renal healthcare professionals to stay updated on the latest advancements in nephrology. This year, the event will take place in Boston April 10 – 13.
We’re excited to be part of SCM 2025 and invite you to visit us at booth #921, to discuss the the role of cystatin C in combination with creatinine for more accurate kidney function assessment. With the latest KDIGO guidelines emphasising the integration of both markers, now is the time to explore how this approach enhances diagnostic precision and patient outcomes.
Recently the scientific community has demonstrated that measuring both creatinine and cystatin C gives a significant advantage when estimating the eGFR. One advantage of measuring cystatin C in addition to creatinine is the increased accuracy achieved partially due to cystatin C being less susceptible to factors that affect muscle mass like age, diet, sex, physical activity, etc.1-8
The international organization KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes), has recently published the 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). This updated guideline places greater emphasis on the biomarker cystatin C for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Highlighting the significance of employing the most precise GFR assessment available, the guideline underscores the utility of utilizing a combination of cystatin C and creatinine. This synergistic approach offers advantages in the management of kidney disease. Cystatin C stands out due to its independence by factors such as race and diet, and it is less susceptible to variations due to age, muscle mass, and sex.
The heightened interest in eGFR equations has its origin from the movement among US medical students that questioned the use of a race coefficient in the calculation of eGFR, and the impact its use can have in healthcare disparities faced by African Americans.
As an answer to the movement a joint task force with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the American Society of Nephrology was established to reassess the inclusion of race in diagnosing kidney disease. Based on input collected over 10 months from hundreds of patients, patient advocates, medical students, clinicians and scientists, the task force recommends "increased use of cystatin C combined with serum creatinine, as a confirmatory assessment of GFR or kidney function."
The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) has also followed up on the initiative from the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-Epi), addressing the race factor in eGFR equations, in a recent study with data from over 227 000 patients. Their newly developed cystatin C based eGFR equation does not rely on factors for race and gender and can estimate the GFR without compromising on accuracy versus creatinine equations.
Incorporating Gentian’s Cystatin C is easy, with quick validation and seamless integration into existing lab workflows. Plus, with shipping directly from the U.S., you can count on reliable and timely delivery for uninterrupted access.
If your organization is planning to perform more than 500 cystatin C tests each year, we are pleased to provide you with a complimentary validation kit, and will be available for support your lab during the process. Contact us to learn how our cystatin C assays can elevate your diagnostic capabilities.
Explore cystatin C in your lab or clinical practice - fill out the form below or send an email to marketing@gentian.com for more information about the product and prices.