Serum C3 and C4 values were determined in 236 normal adults of three racial groups, using the single radial immunodiffusion techniques. The C3 levels varied from 47 to 119 mg/dl and C4 levels from 16 to 66 ml/dl (mean +/- 2SD). The values were found to be comparable to the normals reported in some Western series. No significant differences in the levels related to sex and race were found.
Levels of immunoglobulins G, A, M and E as well as complement components C3c and C4 have been determined in populations in various endemic areas in Peninsular Malaysia and also in filariasis patients. High immunoglobulin levels were seen. In the microfilarial-negative group IgG was 2009 mg% while IgE was 3967 I.U./ml. In the filariasis group, Wuchereria bancrofti patients had significantly higher levels of IgG, IgM and IgE, namely, 3314 mg%, 804 mg% and 18400 I.U./ml respectively. The significance of these levels is discussed.
Immune system dysregulation may be involved in schizophrenia, but biomarker studies have thus far reported inconsistent findings. The relationship of plasma levels of complement markers C3 and C4, with schizophrenia, sociodemographic and clinico-psychological factors were here studied in 183 patients and 212 controls. C3 and C4 levels were significantly higher in the patients and in subjects with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (p C4 levels in multivariate analyses (p complements C3 and C4 are potential peripheral biomarkers in schizophrenia.
AIM: The objectives of this study were to investigate the frequency of thickened carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and atherosclerosis among lupus nephritis (LN) patients and to study their associated risk factors.
METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, carotid ultrasonography was performed on consecutive LN patients to determine CIMT and presence of carotid plaques. CIMT was considered to be abnormally thickened if it was more than the 75th percentile matched for age and sex from the 'Carotid Atherosclerosis Progression Study'. The association between thickened CIMT with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and lupus characteristics were examined. A total of 83 patients with the mean age of 33.6 ± 10 years were recruited.
RESULTS: Fourteen patients (16.9%) had thickened CIMT and three (3.6%) had carotid plaques. On univariate analysis, traditional risk factors significantly associated with thickened CIMT (P < 0.05) were patient's current age, diabetes mellitus and waist circumference. Meanwhile, a lower serum C4 levels and higher serum C-reactive protein levels were the lupus-specific factors associated with thickened CIMT (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of thickened CIMT were age of diagnosis, lower serum C4 levels and waist circumference (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: More lupus specific factors were independently associated with thickened CIMT, suggesting that a multi-targeted approach of treatment addressing both the lupus and traditional cardiovascular risks are very important. Larger prospective studies of these special risk factors are indicated.
Antibodies to the ribosomal P protein are specific for SLE but their prevalence varies in different ethnic groups. In a group of Chinese SLE patients from Malaysia who have a high prevalence of this antibody, we have found an increased frequency of an uncharacterized HLA-DRB gene allele, DR16X, in patients who are positive for anti-P antibodies compared to antibody negative patients (31.3% vs 3.2%, P < 0.01, Pcorr not significant, relative risk = 13.6). DR16X has only been found in south east Asian populations and may be a genetic factor which influences the high prevalence of anti-P antibodies in Chinese.