Human serum complement C3 and factor H in the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count.
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.
Ari
Elif
E
Department of Internal Medicine, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Yilmaz
Yusuf
Y
Gul
Ahmet
A
Alahdab
Yesim Ozen
YO
Kedrah
Alla Eldeen
AE
Macunluoglu
Beyza
B
Aydin
Atakan
A
Arikan
Hakki
H
Ozener
Cetin
C
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
D003176:Complement C3; D017242:Complement Factor H