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[Elevated C3-proactivator serum levels in patients with chronic polyarthritis]
Insights
Complement component levels, including C3-Proactivator (C3-PA) and C4, were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis showed higher elevations than seropositive cases, though C3-PA is not specific to RA.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Chemistry
Abstract:
The C3-Proactivator (C3-PA) and the C3 and C4 complements were determined by radio-immuno diffusion in the serum of 72 patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis, 51 patients with osteoarthrosis and 42 healthy subjects. C3-PA and C4 levles were significantly higher in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in the control group (C3-PA in 72%, C4 in 37% of the RA patients). There was also a significant difference between seropositive und seronegative cases. Elevation of both components was more frequently found in patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis than in the seropositive cases. However, the C3-PA serum level is not correlated with the ESR. Also an elevation of the C3-PA serum level is not specific for rheumatoid arthritis, it is also found in other inflammatory diseases as well as after surgery.