RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cystatin C, Renal Function, and Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 2297
OP 2300
DO 10.3899/jrheum.110168
VO 38
IS 11
A1 RATCHAYA LERTNAWAPAN
A1 AIHUA BIAN
A1 YOUNG HEE RHO
A1 VIVIAN K. KAWAI
A1 PAOLO RAGGI
A1 ANNETTE OESER
A1 JOSEPH F. SOLUS
A1 TEBEB GEBRETSADIK
A1 AYUMI SHINTANI
A1 C. MICHAEL STEIN
YR 2011
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/38/11/2297.abstract
AB Objective. We examined the hypothesis that cystatin C, a novel marker of renal function, is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods. We measured serum cystatin C, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6 concentrations, coronary artery calcium score (CACS), and Modified Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate in 167 patients with RA and 91 controls. Results. Cystatin C was higher in RA patients [median (IQR) 1.16 (0.99–1.35) mg/l] than controls [1.01 (0.90–1.19) mg/l; p < 0.001] and correlated positively with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (p = 0.01), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (p = 0.006), and Framingham risk score (FRS; p = 0.02). Cystatin C was correlated with CACS (p < 0.001) in RA, but this was not significant after adjustment for age, race, sex, and FRS (p = 0.44). Conclusion. Cystatin C concentrations are higher in RA than controls and may reflect inflammation and undetected subclinical renal dysfunction. Cystatin C provides information regarding the risk of atherosclerosis in RA, but this is not independent of the information provided by conventional cardiovascular risk factors.