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Plasma levels of complement C3 is associated with development of hypertension: a longitudinal cohort study

G Engström1, B Hedblad, G Berglund

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Gunnar.Engstrom@med.lu.se

Journal of Human Hypertension
|December 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Higher plasma levels of complement factor 3 (C3) are linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension and future blood pressure increases in men. Complement factor 4 (C4) showed no such association.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hypertension is a major global health concern.
  • Elevated plasma levels of complement factors 3 (C3) and 4 (C4) have been observed in hypertensive individuals, but the causal relationship remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between baseline plasma levels of C3 and C4 and the incidence of hypertension.
  • To examine the relationship between C3 and C4 levels and future blood pressure increase in a healthy male cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based longitudinal study involving 2178 healthy men aged 35-50 years without prior hypertension treatment.
  • Baseline measurements included blood pressure and plasma levels of C3 and C4.
  • Hypertension incidence and systolic blood pressure increase were assessed over a mean follow-up of 15.7 years.

Main Results:

  • A significant trend (P=0.001) showed increased hypertension incidence with higher C3 quartiles, persisting after adjusting for confounders.
  • Systolic blood pressure increase was also significantly associated with higher C3 quartiles (P=0.004), independent of baseline factors.
  • No significant association was found between C4 levels and hypertension development or future blood pressure changes.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma C3 levels are prospectively associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension.
  • Plasma C3 levels are also linked to future increases in systolic blood pressure.
  • Plasma C4 levels do not appear to predict future hypertension development or blood pressure progression.

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