The InCyst study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Inpatient adoption of Cystatin C eGFR in guiding patient management
IRAS ID
304965
Contact name
Darren Green
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Our group wishes to evaluate a biomarker of kidney function called Cystatin C in selected groups of hospital inpatients.
There is good evidence to show that serum Cystatin C provides a better estimation of kidney function compared to the current commonly used test (serum creatinine) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We believe that this also applies to evaluation of kidney function in selected acutely unwell patients admitted to hospital.
In more detail, both Cystatin C and creatinine have been studied in the outpatient setting. Patients admitted to hospital, including those admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), have several reasons for their serum creatinine levels to become deranged. These reasons are often unrelated to the kidney itself but may mean that the tests to monitor kidney function are actually incorrect. This has significant implications for patient management with regards to, for example, medication dosing and fluid therapy, which are often guided by knowledge of kidney function.
This is a pilot study in which we plan to determine the accuracy of different methods of kidney function measurement in selected patients admitted both to the ICU and other wards in our hospital. We will compare the kidney function determined by serum Cystatin C against the same value as determined by serum creatinine. Each of these values will then be compared against a 'gold standard' test which directly (and accurately) measures kidney function.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0560
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion