Low serum C4 concentrations in type-1 diabetes mellitus.
Serum levels of complement factors C3 and C4 were investigated in 64 insulin-dependent diabetic children and 52 healthy controls. The mean value of C4 was significantly lower in diabetic than in control subjects (27.99 +/- 8.01 vs 32.03 +/- 8.91 mg/dl; P less than 0.01). Sixteen out of 64 children had serum C4 levels below the normal range; 6 out of these 11 patients had microalbuminuria. This study demonstrates low serum levels of C4 in insulin-dependent diabetes; this reduction is not related to the duration nor to the degree of metabolic control. There is a high prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with a low C4 concentration.
Chiarelli
F
F
Clinica Pediatrica, Ospedale Pediatrico, Chieti, Italy.
Verrotti
A
A
La Penna
G
G
Morgese
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4