[Evaluation of serum C3 and CH50 levels as markers of disease-activity and indicators of efficacy of treatment of lupus nephritis in childhood].
Serum levels of complement components (C3 and C4) and its activity (CH50) were analysed in 20 children with lupus nephritis from view points of disease-activity and efficacy of therapy. After the initiation of prednisolone or methylprednisolone pulse therapy for children in active phases the depressed C3 and CH50 levels were rapidly recovered to normal ranges within 4 months and 2 months, respectively. On the contrary serum C4 levels were normalized later in 11 months. Increased levels of antinuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody titers have reciprocally dropped in response to those therapy. However, in 9 of 20 children the titers of antinuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody remained high. Proteinuria observed in active phases of lupus nephritis has disappeared by therapy in all but two exceptions: these two children were complicated with nephrotic syndrome. Histological improvement after therapy was not observed (WHO classification). These findings suggested that it is useful to monitor serum C3 and CH50 levels but not C4 levels to judge disease-activity, and to evaluate efficacy of therapy of lupus nephritis in childhood.
Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine.
M
M
Ibe
T
T
Kuriyama
M
M
Mori
T
T
Mitsuda
Y
Y
Aihara
S
S
Yokota
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D003176:Complement C3; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone