title: Plasma levels and mode of excretion of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a in renal disease.
abstract: Plasma levels of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a were examined in patients suffering with various renal diseases. Raised levels were observed in a considerable number of patients; although such elevation could be ascribed to in vivo complement activation in cases of immune complex glomerulonephritis, we found that raised plasma C4a levels appeared to be related to impaired renal function, suggesting that C4a anaphylatoxin is cleared by the kidneys. No such relationship was found in the case of the anaphylatoxin C3a suggesting the possible existence of another mechanism of elimination of C3a.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Abou-Ragheb
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milford-Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000378:metabolism*; D015934:Complement C4a / Q000378:metabolism*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D015926:Complement C3a; D015934:Complement C4a; D003404:Creatinine