Diabetic kidney disease is a common microvascular complication that develops early and is a major cause of end-stage renal disease requiring maintenance dialysis. Early detection of declining glomerular filtration rate in patients with diabetes is therefore essential. Objective: To determine the value of plasma cystatin C in the early detection of renal injury in patients with type 2 diabetes. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 89 outpatients with type 2 diabetes at the Outpatient Department of Thai Nguyen National Hospital. Results: Plasma cystatin C concentration was strongly and positively correlated with plasma creatinine, and eGFRcys was strongly and positively correlated with eGFRcre in patients with type 2 diabetes. Plasma cystatin C was strongly and inversely correlated with eGFRcre. Estimation of GFR using cystatin C identified an additional 25% (13/89) of patients with renal impairment (eGFR <60 mL/min). ROC curve analysis was performed using a GFR threshold of 60 mL/min. The area under the curve (AUC) for cystatin C was 0.812, higher than the AUC for creatinine (0.711); the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Plasma cystatin C may reflect an early decline in glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Bùi Thị Thu Hương is a Vietnamese academic and researcher who serves as an Associate Professor and PhD in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Basic Medicine, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy (TUMP/TNMC). Based in Thai Nguyen City, Vietnam, she also collaborates closely with Thai Nguyen National Hospital's immunology, genetics, and molecular biology divisions. Her extensive research focuses primarily on molecular diagnostics, genetic risk factors in chronic diseases, and mother-to-child transmission dynamics of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV).