Cystatin C as a Marker of Renal Function is Affected by HIV Replication Leading to an Underestimation of Kidney Function in HIV Patients

Abstract

Correlation of cystatin C with HIV RNA and CD4+ T-cell count, plus decrease of cystatin C after suppression of HIV replication, suggest an increase of cystatin C levels by active HIV infection. This might result in overestimation of renal impairment, particularly in treatment-naive patients. Therefore, use of cystatin C to calculate GFR in HIV-seropositive individuals should not be recommended without further validation.