Serum C3 complement concentrations correlate with liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether C3 and C4 serum complement concentrations have prognostic relevance for patients with liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
Serum complement concentrations of C3 and C4 were measured in 69 patients with liver cirrhosis and correlated with the Child-Pugh score.


RESULTS
C3 concentrations were 1.06+/-0.21 g/L in patients with Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis and significantly lower in Child-Pugh B (0.78+/-0.24 g/L) and even lower Child-Pugh C (0.49+/-0.14 g/L) (p=0.006 B vs. A, p<0.001 C vs. B). Patients with consecutive hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) had the lowest C3 concentrations (0.44+/-0.05 g/L (Child-Pugh C +HRS) vs. 0.54+/-0.06g/dL (Child-Pugh C -HRS); p<0.05). C4 concentrations were 0.21+/-0.08 in Child-Pugh A and significantly lower in Child-Pugh B (0.11+/-0.04) and Child-Pugh C (0.09+/-0.04) patients (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between C3 (r = -0.81, p<0.001) and C4 (r = -0.51, p<0.05) concentrations and the Child-Pugh score.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum complement concentrations of C3 and C4 correlate negatively with the Child-Pugh score in patients with liver cirrhosis. C3 concentrations are lower in those Child-Pugh C cirrhosis patients with consecutive development of HRS.
Baumann
Marcus
M
Department of Nephrology, University Clinic Essen, Germany.
Witzke
Oliver
O
Canbay
Ali
A
Patschan
Susann
S
Treichel
Ulrich
U
Gerken
Guido
G
Philipp
Thomas
T
Kribben
Andreas
A
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism; D006530:Hepatorenal Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein