Prognostic value of cystatin C for chronic kidney disease in pediatric urologic malformations

BACKGROUND: To assess the prognostic value of serum cystatin C for predicting 10-year major adverse kidney events (MAKE) in pediatric patients with urologic malformations (UTMs). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX global federated research network of electronic health records. Children aged 0-18 years with UTMs (including congenital urinary tract anomalies, vesicoureteral reflux, obstructive uropathy, neurogenic bladder, and spina bifida) and available serum cystatin C measurements were included. The primary outcome was MAKE, defined as the first occurrence of dialysis initiation, kidney transplantation, chronic kidney disease, albuminuria, or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² within 10 years. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of MAKE. RESULTS: After 1:1 propensity score matching, 2062 patients were analyzed (mean follow-up 1025 days). Elevated cystatin C (≥1.3 mg/L) was associated with higher MAKE incidence (39.3% vs 29.2%; HR 2.5, 95% CI 2.00-3.12, p < 0.001). Significant risks were observed for CKD (HR 3.55), dialysis (HR 9.09), and albuminuria (HR 1.83). No significant differences were found for renal transplantation (HR 0.52) or eGFR decline