Is serum cystatin C a predictor of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in patients with normal renal function

Early diagnosis is the key point in the management of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). There are no reports in the literature comparing the serum cystatin C levels in patients with acute PTE and normal volunteers. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed 50 acute PTE patients and 45 healthy volunteers with normal renal function. The serum cystatin C level was significantly higher in the PTE group than in the non-PTE group [1.08 mg/dL (IQR 0.79-1.56) and 0.85 mg/dL (IQR 0.77-1.03), respectively, p=0.017]. When determining the presence of PTE, the highest value of sensitivity and specificity was set at a cut-off value of 1.15 mg/dL with 93.3% specificity, 46.0% sensitivity, 88.5% PPV and 60.9% NPV. In the multivariate model cystatin C was significantly associated with the presence of PTE (OR: 12.34, 95% CI 2.64-57.75).In conclusion, cystatin C may be an indicator of acute PTE in patients with normal renal function.