title: Human serum complement C3 and factor H in the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP syndrome) is a life-threatening variant of severe pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. The complement system may play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition. We sought to determine serum complement 3 (C3) levels and its regulatory protein complement factor H (FH) in the HELLP syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two pre-eclamptic patients with HELLP syndrome (mean age: 27.8 +/- 6.2 years), 21 pre-eclamptic patients without HELLP syndrome (mean age: 27.5 +/- 6.8 years) and 24 normotensive, healthy pregnant women (mean age: 26.1 +/- 4.4 years) were included in this study. Serum concentrations of C3 and FH were measured in all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of C3 and FH did not differ significantly between the study groups. In patients with the HELLP syndrome, FH levels were positively associated with platelet count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings did not support a major role of complement activation in the HELLP syndrome. In patients with HELLP, lower levels of FH are correlated with a reduced platelet count.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ari
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Yesim Ozen
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Alahdab
authors.forename: Alla Eldeen
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kedrah
authors.forename: Beyza
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macunluoglu
authors.forename: Atakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Hakki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D017242:Complement Factor H