Serum concentrations of C3 and C4 of the complement system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Miller, R.D.; Kueppers, F.; Offord, K.P.
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 95(2): 266-271
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-2143 PMID: 7354236 Document Number: 161695
In a search for host factors for the complex multifactoral disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we compared some major components of the complement system in 111 subjects with forced expiratory volumes in 1 sec less than 70% of predicted (index subjects) to those in 111 subjects matched as pairs for age, sex, smoking, and occupation having forced expiratory volumes in 1 sec more than 85% of predicted normal. Significantly lower blood levels of C3 and C4 were found in the index subjects (p less than 0.001). Among the index subjects there was a significant correlation between chronic cough and expectoration and low C3 and C4. There was not a significant correlation between low values and the frequency and severity of past respiratory infections. Levels of serum B globulin fraction, in which C3 and C4 migrate, were not different between the index and control subjects.