Abstract 13494: Significant Association of Serum Cystatin C with Coronary Calcification Evaluated by Tomographic Coronary Calcium Scoring

Abstract

Background: Recently, coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has been advocated as a new method for risk stratifying patients at intermediate risk for coronary artery disease. Coronary calcification is frequently found in patients with kidney disease; however, association between kidney function and coronary calcification has not been clarified. Cystatin C has emerged as a reliable marker of kidney function. Some previous reports demonstrated the predictive value of cystatin C for cardoiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the impact of kidney function assessed by cystatin C on CACS.

Methods and results: In this study, we examined 235 subjects without previous coronary artery disease. Subjects underwent CACS determination by multi detector computed tomography. CACS was calculated using the Agatston criteria. Kidney function was assessed with eGFR and cystatin C. In univariate analysis, CACS was associated with NT-proBNP level (r=0.139, p=0.03). CACS was significantly associated with Cystatin C (r=0.553, p<0.0001) and eGFR (r=-0.321, P<0.0001). In multivariable linear regression analysis, cystatin C was independently associated with CACS after adjustment for confounding factors including age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HbA1c, blood pressure, heart rate and BNP level

Conclusion: Cystatin C is strongly associated with coronary calcification, which may be involved in the high rate of cardiovascular event in patients with kidney dysfunction.