Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a critical condition often encountered in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), characterized by a rapid decline in kidney function. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to improving outcomes in these vulnerable patients. Serum Cystatin C (CysC), a promising biomarker, has emerged as a potential diagnostic tool for detecting AKI in children. Unlike traditional markers such as serum creatinine, CysC is less influenced by age, gender, and muscle mass, making it a more reliable indicator of kidney function in pediatric populations. This review aims to explore the role of Serum Cystatin C in the early detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of AKI in children within the PICU setting. The potential advantages, limitations, and clinical implications of CysC as a biomarker are discussed, along with recent research findings highlighting its utility in pediatric AKI. Ultimately, understanding the role of CysC could lead to improved outcomes by enabling timely interventions and better management strategies for pediatric patients at risk of AKI.

Acute Kidney Injury, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Serum Cystatin C

"Serum cystatin C for acute kidney injury evaluation in children"

This study highlights that serum cystatin C (CysC) is a more accurate marker of glomerular filtration rate than serum creatinine (SCr) and may rise more quickly during AKI. The findings suggest that CysC can serve as a sensitive biomarker for early AKI detection in pediatric patients.

"Early detection of acute kidney injury by serum cystatin C in critically ill children"

The research indicates that the sensitivity of serum CysC for detecting AKI is higher than that of serum creatinine in a heterogeneous pediatric intensive care unit population. This underscores the potential of CysC as a superior early diagnostic tool for AKI in critically ill children.

"Cystatin C as a biomarker of acute kidney injury in a group of critically ill children in a pediatric intensive care unit"

This study concludes that serum cystatin C is a valuable biomarker for renal function in the early stages of kidney injury. The rapid elevation of CysC levels compared to serum creatinine suggests its applicability for early AKI detection in pediatric intensive care patients.

"Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Serum Cystatin C in Critically Ill Children With Acute Kidney Injury"

The findings reveal that serum cystatin C levels were higher in patients with AKI compared to those without AKI at pediatric intensive care unit admission. This suggests that CysC can serve as both a diagnostic and prognostic marker in critically ill children.

"Accuracy of cystatin C in prediction of acute kidney injury in children"

This study demonstrates that cystatin C has an acceptable prognostic value for predicting AKI in children, reinforcing its potential utility in clinical settings for early identification and management of kidney injury.