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Racial Differences in Serum Cystatin‐C Following Antenatal Corticosteroid Exposure
Author(s) -
Zerihun Lillian M.,
Nixon Patricia A.,
Washburn Lisa K.,
Gwathmey TanYa M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.lb825
Subject(s) - cystatin c , medicine , renal function , offspring , endocrinology , gestation , creatinine , low birth weight , pregnancy , physiology , biology , genetics
Antenatal corticosteroid (ANCS) administration to mothers at risk of pre‐term delivery has been linked to both transient and long‐term renal and cardiovascular damage in the exposed offspring. Previously, we reported that exposure to ANCS was associated with elevated levels of renal angiotensin II, which may contribute to renal inflammation and fibrosis over time. Cystatin‐C, a protease inhibitor excreted by glomerular filtration, is used as a biomarker for early‐stage renal damage, as its concentration is inversely correlated with glomerular filtration rate and it is thought to be less influenced by gender, age, and muscle mass than other biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to compare serum levels of Cystatin‐C in a cohort of young adults (~ 19 years of age) born prematurely (<37 weeks gestation) with very low birth weight (< 1500 g), who were exposed or not to ANCS. Potential race and gender‐specific effects were also examined. ANCS‐exposed Caucasians showed a trend for higher Cystatin‐C levels [1.00 ±0.05 mg/L; N=52] compared with unexposed Caucasians [0.89 ± 0.05 mg/L; N=34; P=0.091] , while no differences were observed between ANCS‐exposed and unexposed African Americans. Importantly, ANCS‐exposed Caucasian males had significantly elevated serum Cystatin‐C [1.04 ± 0.06 mg/L; N=26] compared with ANCS‐exposed African American males [0.80 ± 0.05 mg/L; N=15; P=0.003]. Similarly, a trend was observed for higher serum Cystatin‐C in ANCS‐exposed Caucasian females [1.00 ± 0.08 mg/L; N=26] compared with ANCS‐exposed African American females [0.80 ± 0.05 mg/L; N=10; P=0.055] . However, no significant difference was observed between Caucasians and African Americans for unexposed males or females. These data suggest exposure to ANCS may have a greater impact towards increasing risk for early renal injury in Caucasian individuals than in African Americans at this age. These observations align with recent reports in the literature revealing racial differences in Cystatin‐C levels, and remain consistent with our previous findings of race and gender‐specific programming effects of ANCS on health outcomes in persons born with very low birth weight. These findings provide an important perspective for the alleviation of renal health disparities following ANCS exposure. Support or Funding Information AHA 12CRP9390000 and HD047584