title: The third component of the complement (C3) is a marker of the risk of atherogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the association between the third component of the complement (C3) and other risk factors of coronary heart disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 1200 individuals aged 25-74 years (600 men and 600 women). A strong relationship was shown between serum C3 and both body mass index (BMI, P<0.01) and fibrinogen (P<0.01). We found a significant, independent correlation with: platelet count (P<0.01), insulin level (P<0.01), triglycerides (P<0.01), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P<0.01), and an inverse correlation with cigarette smoking (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high concentration of C3 is a marker of a profile at risk of atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Cardiologia ed UTIC - Ospedale Amico G. Fucito Mercato San Severino (SA), Genova, Italy. capuanov@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capuano
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Arminio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Sala
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D015996:Survival Rate; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D014280:Triglycerides