What is a new biomarker for detecting acute kidney injury?

Cystatin C is a relatively new biomarker that has shown promise in the detection of acute kidney injury (AKI). This protein is produced at a constant rate by nucleated cells and is filtered by the kidneys. Unlike creatinine, which can be affected by muscle mass, age, and sex, cystatin C levels remain fairly stable across different populations. This makes it a more reliable indicator of kidney function in certain situations.

In the context of acute kidney injury, cystatin C can detect changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) more sensitively and earlier than traditional markers like creatinine. This is particularly valuable because early detection of AKI can significantly impact treatment outcomes and improve patient management.

While creatinine is a long-standing marker used to assess kidney function, it can have limitations in specific patient populations. Potassium and uric acid do not serve as direct indicators of kidney injury; while they may reflect kidney function in other contexts, they do not specifically indicate the presence of AKI. Cystatin C’s ability to provide timely and accurate information about kidney function marks it as a valuable tool in clinical practice for the detection of acute kidney injury.