ABSTRACT
Measurements of plasma anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a were carried out as an indicator of in vivo complement activation in 46 patients suffering from IgA nephropathy/Henoch-Schönlein nephritis. There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of C4a and plasma creatinine and urea. We also found a significant correlation of plasma levels of C3a with plasma creatinine. We propose that the measurement of anaphylatoxin levels provides a sensitive indicator of in vivo complement activation and may serve as an additional method for monitoring the progress of disease in these patients.
Subject(s)
Complement C3a/analysis , Complement C4a/analysis , Glomerulonephritis, IGA/blood , Nephritis/blood , Adult , Circadian Rhythm , Creatinine/blood , Female , Humans , IgA Vasculitis/blood , IgA Vasculitis/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Nephritis/etiology , Proteinuria/blood , Urea/bloodABSTRACT
Plasma levels of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a were examined in patients suffering with various renal diseases. Raised levels were observed in a considerable number of patients; although such elevation could be ascribed to in vivo complement activation in cases of immune complex glomerulonephritis, we found that raised plasma C4a levels appeared to be related to impaired renal function, suggesting that C4a anaphylatoxin is cleared by the kidneys. No such relationship was found in the case of the anaphylatoxin C3a suggesting the possible existence of another mechanism of elimination of C3a.