Complement System Deficiencies in Elite Athletes

Although regular physical activity improves immune competency and reduces the prevalence of inflammatory diseases, strenuous training in elite athletes is associated with an increased susceptibility to infectious complications. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess the routinely examined parameters of the complement system in elite athletes. The study was carried out in a cohort of elite athletes (n = 134) and healthy control subjects (n = 110). In all subjects, besides a routine laboratory check-up, serum concentrations of the C3 and C4 complement components, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), as well as activation of all three complement pathways were determined.

Compared to healthy controls, lower C3 and C4 complement component concentrations were observed in elite athletes (0.96 ± 0.1 vs. 1.08 ± 0.2 mg/L, and 0.18 ± 0.1 vs. 0.25 ± 0.1 mg/L, respectively, p < 0.05); with much higher frequency rates of C3 and C4 deficiencies in athletes (31.3 vs. 14.5%, and 6 vs. 0%, p < 0.05). Simultaneously, athletes had much higher frequency rates of deficiencies of activation of classical and alternative complement pathways; while, deficiency of activation of the lectin pathway was similar in both cohorts.

We confirmed a high frequency of defects in the complement system in elite athletes. Lower concentrations of C3 and C4 complement components, with high frequencies of deficiencies of the classical and alternative complement activation pathways were the most prevalent disorder of the complement system in elite athletes. Further studies are needed to uncover the functional impacts of these observations upon the susceptibility to infectious diseases.