Evaluation of Renal Function in Obese Children and Adolescents Using Serum Cystatin C Levels, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Formulae and Proteinuria: Which is most Useful?

Objective: There is a growing interest in the relationship between obesity and renal damage. The effect of obesity on renal function in children and adolescents has not been adequately investigated. In addition, there is no complete consensus on the reliability of various renal function parameters. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate renal function in obese children and adolescents using glomerular filtration rate (GFR), cystatin C, and creatinine (Cr)-derived formulas. We also compared classical GFR measurement methods with methods based on bioimpedance analysis-derived body cell mass (BCM).
Methods: We enrolled 108 obese and 46 healthy subjects aged 6-18 years. Serum cystatin C, serum Cr, 24-hour proteinuria, Cr clearance, and GFR were evaluated in both groups. Estimated GFR was measured with Cr-based, cystatin C-based, combined (cystatin C and Cr) and BCM-based formulae. Both actual and fat-free mass body surface areas (BSA) were used when required. Metabolic parameters (blood glucose, insulin, and lipids) were analyzed in the obese subjects. International Diabetes Federation criteria were used to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Results: We did not detect statistically significant differences between the obese and control groups for mean Cr (p=0.658) and mean cystatin C (p=0.126). Mean cystatin C levels of MetS patients were significantly higher than those of non-MetS obese participants (p<0.001). Cr-based GFR measurements, BCM-based measurements and a combined Cr and cystatin C measurement showed a statistically significant increase in the GFR of obese subjects compared to controls (p=0.002 and p<0.001). This increase was negatively correlated with duration of obesity. Estimations based on actual or fat-free mass BSA did not differ either. Only the Filler equation showed a statistically significant decrease in eGFR in MetS patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the obese and control groups for proteinuria (p=0.994) and fat-free mass proteinuria (p=0.476).
Conclusion: We conclude that cystatin C could be used as an earlier biomarker than Cr in the detection of impaired renal function in obese children, especially those with MetS. Cr-based formulae reveal hyperfiltration as the first change in renal function. Decreasing eGFR seen in MetS patients with cystatin C-based formulae, but not Cr-based formulae, may represent the early stages of renal damage. Using fat-free mass or BCM for eGFR formulae in obese children seems to provide no additional information.