Serum Complement C3 and Type 2 Diabetes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Endocrinology
• Immunology

Background:

• Complement C3 is a potential biomarker for cardiometabolic risk in the general population.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients have an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between complement C3 levels and the presence of T2DM in RA patients.
• To assess the predictive value of complement C3 for T2DM in RA.

Main Methods:

• Study included 40 RA patients with T2DM (RA/T2DM+) and 80 RA patients without T2DM (RA/T2DM-).
• Analyzed demographic data, disease characteristics (RA duration, disease activity), inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP), and complement C3 levels.
• Utilized logistic regression and ROC curve analysis to evaluate predictors of T2DM.

Main Results:

• RA/T2DM+ patients were older, had longer RA duration, and higher disease activity compared to RA/T2DM- patients.
• Significantly higher levels of ESR, CRP, and complement C3 were observed in the RA/T2DM+ group.
• Longer RA duration, ESR, and C3 levels were associated with an increased likelihood of T2DM. The combination of RA duration and C3 demonstrated strong predictive value (AUC = 0.89).

Conclusions:

• Complement C3 levels can predict the presence of T2DM in RA patients.
• Complement C3, in conjunction with RA duration, offers a valuable tool for identifying RA patients at higher risk for T2DM.