Low serum C4 concentrations: an inherited predisposition to insulin dependent diabetes?
Twenty two out of 86 insulin dependent diabetics had serum C4 concentrations below the normal range. None of 41 non-insulin dependent diabetics tested had low concentrations. Low C4 values were seen in insulin dependent diabetes irrespective of the duration of the disease and did not appear to correlate with complement activation. There was a close correlation in C4 values between identical cotwins, even when only one was diabetic. These results suggest that a low serum C4 concentration is an inherited phenomenon and may predispose towards the development of insulin dependent diabetes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D015933:Complement C3d; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007328:Insulin; D015933:Complement C3d