What does a high complement C3 test mean?

What does a high complement C3 test mean?

Your complement levels will often rise very high just after an infection or injury. When your complement system responds to ongoing disease such as lupus, levels usually go down. You can inherit a deficiency in your complement C3. But it’s much more common to acquire a deficiency.

What does elevated C3 and C4 mean?

It seems that elevated C3 and C4 are likely to result of increased synthesis in the liver in response to cytokines e.g. IL-1β, IL-6 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which are increased in active CU and are known to control synthesis of the APR proteins [9].

What causes low C3 levels?

Decreased C3 may be associated with acute glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, immune complex disease, active systemic lupus erythematosus, septic shock, and end-stage liver disease.

Why are complement levels low in lupus?

Low complement levels often signify active lupus, especially lupus nephritis. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether low complement levels are due to consumption during inflammation or due to an inherent deficiency of one or more alleles. Even more obfuscating, the two scenarios may exist in one individual.

What is a normal complement C3 level?

The normal range is 88 to 201 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (0.88 to 2.01 g/L). Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What is the rheumatoid factor?

Rheumatoid factors are proteins produced by your immune system that can attack healthy tissue in your body. High levels of rheumatoid factor in the blood are most often associated with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome.

What is a high C4 level?

Higher-than-normal complement C4 values may be a sign of cancer, ulcerative colitis, and inflammation in general. Lower-than-normal complement C4 values could indicate: bacterial infections. hepatitis. malnutrition.

What is considered a high C4 level?

The normal range for a complement C4 blood test is 16 to 48 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 0.16 to 0.48 grams per liter (g/L). Your complement levels will often shoot up dramatically just after an infection or injury.

What is considered a low C3 level?

Low C3 and C4 levels, below 60 for C3 and 15 for C4 (in the usual American measure), occur in active lupus, especially in the setting of kidney disease or immune breakdown of blood cells (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, AIHA). Some types of lupus, such as brain disease, do not cause low complement levels.

What is C3 and C4 blood test for?

Complement tests, most commonly C3 and C4, are used to determine whether deficiencies or abnormalities in the complement system are causing, or contributing to, a patient’s disease or condition.

Why is C3 and C4 low in lupus?

Lupus patients usually have low C3 and C4 levels during disease flares because of activation of the complement system by immune complexes (ICs) [1].

Is C3 and C4 always low in lupus?

In certain diseases, both components are low. But in others, only 1 component is low. In lupus, both C3 and C4 levels are usually low. If your healthcare provider suspects lupus, you may have a number of other blood tests to see how your immune system is functioning.