complement C3 test

[slowmovinmom]

Hi, Can anyone please explain the Complement C3 blood test? Mine was Abnormally high, and I dont understand what it is. See doctor in 3 weeks, and Im just curious. Im reading info on the web, and dont really understand it. I have MCTD.

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif SMM

[Clare.T]

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Complement refers to proteins that play a part in the immune system response to protect the body, normally against attack from outside threats, like infections from bacteria or viruses.

Sometimes the response is a mistaken reaction to external agents that are not a real threat, as in allergic reactions to foodstuffs or from contacts like nettles.
When the body is being attacked, complement levels rise to repel the invader and after an attack they will be low, depleted by the protective effort.

An activated immune response can be described as an inflammatory process. So if you have flu or have got an infectious disease you might run a temperature, have joint aches and pains, headaches, tiredness, lack of appetite, all that sort of thing as the body struggles. In wounds and injuries, as the body seeks to repair and protect itself, the inflammation might be obvious with swelling, redness, heat and maybe itching, as visible signs of inflammation.

With lupus we are dealing with a whacko immune system that's turned against the very body its supposed to be protecting, autoimmune activity, or "self allergy". The same sort of inflammatory process occurs as in normal immune system activity.

So complement might be high just before a lupus flare, as the system gears up or in an "acute "disease phase when the system is very hyped up. Then as complement is used up, it falls, so complement might be depleted as part of a chronic ongoing disease process or as the flare gets under way.

This is why complement levels can be a measure of inflammatory disease processes. They may show inflammation under way before it's reflected in other tests that can show inflammation, such as SED rate or CRP.

They do not show what is causing the inflammation, so like all test results they have to be interpreted along with all other signs and symptoms, as well as other test results

Some people have chronic complement deficiencies leading to a variety of complaints, rather depending on what the particular deficiency is.

That's how I understand it any way ! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Open to correction !

All the best

Clare

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understandin...evels/test.html (http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/complement_levels/test.html)

[slowmovinmom]

Clare, Thank you, that makes more sense to me. That explains why I have been feeling so lousy. I appreciate your time. Smm
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