Effects on serum complement of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy and of oral contraceptives

The complement system was studied in normal gestation and puerperium, in pre-eclampsia and in women taking oral contraceptives. In 12 normal pregnancies, CH50 titres, C4, C3, C6 and C7 were increased throughout pregnancy; the serum concentration of C1 inhibitor was decreased in the last 2 quarters but greatly raised after delivery. Oral oestrogen-progestogen contraceptives also raised C3 but in contrast to pregnancy lowered CH50, C6 and C7. The different effects of pregnancy and of oral contraceptives may be due to materno-foetal immune reactions. In 9 patients with pre-eclamplsia, complement levels showed a wider scatter and a significantly higher C3 level than in normal pregnancy. Conversion of C3 to C3i was found in 2 of these patients.