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Updated: May 21, 2026

Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement (CH50) Activity of Serum

Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement (CH₅₀) Activity of Serum

Published on: March 29, 2010

Pitfalls in urinary complement measurements.

Pieter van der Pol¹, Dorottya K de Vries, Daniëlle J van Gijlswijk

¹Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. p.ppl@lumc.nl

Transplant Immunology

|June 20, 2012

Summary

Urinary soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) may indicate kidney transplant injury, but can also form outside the kidney. Researchers found sC5b-9 levels correlate with proteinuria, yet can be generated in urine independently of kidney damage.

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Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement (CH50) Activity of Serum

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Published on: March 29, 2010

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells

Published on: January 29, 2014

Area of Science:

Nephrology
Immunology
Transplantation Medicine

Background:

Local complement system activation is linked to ischemia/reperfusion injury in kidney transplants and tubular damage in proteinuric conditions.
The soluble terminal complement complex, sC5b-9, is a stable end-product of complement cascade and a potential urinary biomarker.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the utility of urinary soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) as a biomarker for kidney transplant injury.
To determine the origin of urinary sC5b-9, specifically differentiating between renal and extra-renal complement activation.

Main Methods:

Measured urinary sC5b-9 levels in kidney transplant recipients during the early post-transplant period.
Correlated urinary sC5b-9 levels with the degree of proteinuria.
Mimicked proteinuria in vitro by exposing serum to urine and assessed sC5b-9 generation, testing inhibition with EDTA.

Main Results:

High urinary sC5b-9 levels were observed in the early post-transplant period, significantly correlating with proteinuria.
In vitro experiments demonstrated extensive sC5b-9 generation when serum was exposed to urine, independent of renal cells.
EDTA inhibited this in vitro sC5b-9 generation, confirming complement system activation.

Conclusions:

Urinary sC5b-9 is a promising biomarker for kidney transplant injury, reflecting complement activation.
However, extra-renal complement activation can lead to sC5b-9 generation in urine, independent of kidney damage.
Caution is advised when interpreting urinary sC5b-9 levels, especially in kidney transplant patients with common procedure-related proteinuria.