Association between serum Cystatin C and renal injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B

To explore the association between serum cystatin C (Cys-C) and renal damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 425 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Liver stiffness measured by FibroScan was used to diagnosis liver fibrosis. Cys-C levels were detected via latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. A total of 425 patients were enrolled. Among them, 217 were patients with CHB with an eGFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and 208 with an eGFR ≤90 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Cys-C levels significantly differed in patients with eGFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) compared with patients with eGFR ≤90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (0.81 ± 0.05 vs 1.05 ± 0.06 mg/L, P < .001). Moreover, the Cys-C levels were 0.82 ± 0.04 mg/L in patients without liver fibrosis, 0.98 ± 0.05 mg/L in patients with mild liver fibrosis, 1.05 ± 0.08 mg/L in patients with advanced liver fibrosis, and 1.12 ± 0.07 mg/L in patients with liver cirrhosis (P < .001). Multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the independent factors associated with a decreased eGFR. Multivariate analysis suggested that T2DM (P = .032), liver fibrosis (P = .013), and Cys-C level (P = .035) were the independent factors associated with the decreased eGFR in patients with CHB. While age (P = .020) and Cys-C level (P = .001) were the independent factors associated with the decreased eGFR in patients with CHB-related fibrosis. The fibrosis group had significantly higher Cys-C levels than those without fibrosis. Routine monitoring of Cys-C levels is of positive significance in preventing the development of renal impairment of CHB patients.