title: Complement activation in atherosclerosis: effect of angiography and surgery.
abstract: Complement activation in the plasma of patients with severe atherosclerosis (arterial occlusive or aneurysmatic disease) was investigated in this study. The effects of angiography and reconstructive arterial surgery (RAS) were also assessed. Atherosclerosis was not found to be associated with systemic complement activation. Angiography resulted in high levels of C3 breakdown products. Surgery caused a significant degree of systemic complement activation in both patients with atherosclerosis and controls. Post-operative levels of C3 breakdown products were significantly higher in atheromatic patients than in controls, most likely due to the insertion of dacron arterial prostheses in the first group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathologic Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germenis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prountzos
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kitas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalodiki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fertakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balas
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003167:Complement Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates