Diabetes mellitus continues to evolve as a global public health problem. Early identification of renal functions is important for diabetic patients. Serum Cystatin C may be one of the sensitive indicators of GFR. We in the present study tried to evaluate the usefulness and sensitivity of Cystatin C and creatinine in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in comparison with controls.

Methods: The present study was conducted in the Departments of General Medicine and Biochemistry, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Hyderabad from April 2016 to May 2018. A total of n=88 patients divided into two groups Group I (DM type II) n=44 and Group II (normal controls) n=44 were included in the study. The group I patients was subdivided into three subgroups based on the albuminuria. The subgroup [A] were the patients with microalbuminruia n=13, Subgroup [B] were patients with macroalbuminruia n= 17, Subgroup [C] were patients with normoalbuminuria n=14.

Results: In group I the mean age was 57.5 ± 3.5 years and the Mean age in the control group II was 55.5 ± 2.5 years. Cystatin C was more sensitive then creatinine in microalbumin subgroup [A] urea (73.3 and 75.1 % respectively) in Subgroup [B] the values were [63.5 and 69.8 % respectively] in normoalbuminuria subgroup [C] 59.5 and 54.6 % respectively While in control group serum creatinine was slightly more sensitive than the Cystatin C 42.3 and 41.5 % respectively.

Conclusion: it can be concluded that serum Cystatin C is a good marker of renal nephropathy and impaired renal functions in diabetic patients. In the study patients with macroalbuminuria had highest sensitivity with Cystatin C as compared to creatinine. It may be considered as an alternative marker of nephropathy instead of albuminuria in patients with decreased GFR and renal functions.

Keywords:  Cystatin C, Diabetic nephropathy, creatinine.

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Dr V Praveena

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, National Highway 65, Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar, Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad 500038, India