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Complement C3 and C-reactive protein levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease
Ramzi Ajjan1, Peter J Grant, Timothy S Futers
1Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Insights
Complement C3, a key protein, is a stronger indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD) than CRP. Elevated C3 levels in patients suggest its potential role in atherosclerosis risk stratification.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) poses a significant global health burden.
- Biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification of CAD are crucial.
- Complement system activation is implicated in inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic value of complement C3 as a biomarker for coronary artery disease (CAD).
- To compare the association of C3 with CAD against C-reactive protein (CRP).
Main Methods:
- Plasma levels of C3 and CRP were measured in 278 CAD patients and 269 controls.
- Correlations between C3, CRP, and clinical/biochemical parameters were analyzed.
- Logistic regression models were used to assess independent associations with CAD.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher plasma C3 levels were observed in CAD patients compared to controls (p<0.001).
- C3 levels correlated with BMI, glucose, HbA1c, fibrinogen, CRP, and HDL in patients.
- Complement C3, but not CRP, was independently associated with CAD (OR=3.20 per 1 SD increase).
Conclusions:
- Both C3 and CRP are elevated in patients with symptomatic CAD.
- Complement C3 demonstrates superior independent association with CAD compared to CRP in this cohort.
- C3 may serve as a valuable additional marker for atherosclerosis risk stratification.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine whether complement C3 is an indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured plasma C3 and CRP levels in 278 patients undergoing coronary angiography for typical symptoms of CAD and 269 healthy age and sex matched controls. C3 levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls (1.15 g/l and 0.92 g/l respectively; p<0.001). In the patient group, C3 levels correlated with BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, fibrinogen, CRP and HDL in both men and women. CRP levels were also higher in patients compared with controls (1.14 mg/l and 0.86 mg/l respectively; p=0.005) and correlated with markers of the metabolic syndrome. In a logistic regression model including C3, smoking, hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes, C3 was independently associated with CAD with an odds ratio of 3.20 for a 1 SD increase in C3 levels. In contrast, CRP was not independently associated with CAD in a similar regression analysis. In conclusion, both C3 and CRP plasma levels are elevated in patients with symptoms of CAD. However, C3 seems to be a better indicator of CAD than CRP in this study, suggesting that C3 could be an additional marker for risk stratification in atherosclerosis.
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