Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Utility of serum complement factors C3 and C4 as biomarkers during therapeutic management of giant cell arteritis
Authors' conclusion
C3 and C4 do not seem useful in the diagnosis of GCA, as normal values do not rule out active vasculitis. However, C3 and C4 correlate with disease activity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) who underwent C3 and C4 measurement at baseline, followed at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after diagnosis
- Outcome
- Serum C3 and C4 levels (mg/dL) at baseline and during follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- C3 at baseline, mean ± SD (mg/dL), within normal range
- 133 ± 28.99
- C4 at baseline, mean ± SD (mg/dL), within normal range
- 25.9 ± 9.04
- C3 in patients attaining remission, mean ± SD (mg/dL); decreased (p = 0.0006)
- 107.07 ± 19.86
- C4 in patients attaining remission, mean ± SD (mg/dL); decreased (p = 0.01)
- 19.86 ± 10.27
- C3 in sustained remission, mean ± SD (mg/dL); decreased (p = 0.001)
- 95.85 ± 18.04
- C4 in sustained remission, mean ± SD (mg/dL); decreased (p = 0.006)
- 15.61 ± 9.75
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
C3 and C4 in TCZ-treated patients (subgroup)
- C3, mean ± SD (mg/dL); stronger decrease (p = 0.001)
- 83.11 ± 19.66
- C4, mean ± SD (mg/dL); stronger decrease (p < 0.0001)
- 8.26 ± 3.83
- C3 and C4 values not correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) or ESR
Original publication
Utility of serum complement factors C3 and C4 as biomarkers during therapeutic management of giant cell arteritis. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 6 April 2022. doi:10.
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