Association of Peak Changes in Plasma Cystatin C and Creatinine With Death After Cardiac Operations

The association of acute kidney injury (AKI) with adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery is well known.  This study compared the association of AKI and the elevation of cystatin C, another filtration marker, with long-term survival after cardiac surgery.  30% of patients experienced an abnormal increase in creatinine postop compared to 15% who had an abnormal rise in cystatin C.  A rise in  cystatin C was better predictive of decreased long-term survival than was creatinine.