Prognostic value of cystatin C for chronic kidney disease in pediatric urologic malformations

Pediatric patients with urologic malformations have increased chronic kidney disease risk, often requiring dialysis with a significant healthcare and quality-of-life burden. Traditional markers like serum creatinine and eGFR have limitations in detecting early renal impairment in growing children. Serum cystatin C, unaffected by muscle mass or growth, offers superior kidney function assessment but has not been evaluated for predicting long-term outcomes in pediatric urinary tract malformations. This study is the first to evaluate cystatin C's prognostic value for Major Adverse Kidney Events in this population. Incorporating cystatin C into routine monitoring may improve early risk stratification and guide surveillance strategies.