[Lily80]

I'm curious to know what is a normal c3 level? I know labs can vary. My lab lists normal as 99-223 MG/DL. My level is 109 MG/DL. While it is in range, it is at the lower end. Just curious what others c3 levels were prediagnois, postdiagnosis, etc. It appears normal to me, but just curious if anybody has any input on my level.

My ANA is >1:640, homogeneous the last 2 times tested. I've been sick for 5 years. Dermatologist thinks its lupus, I think its lupus, last rheumatologist thinks its nothing.

I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and it wasn't until I requested copies of my labs and "investigated" them, many of my labs were "in range" but just barely. Long story short, I persisted and got my diagnosis and treatment. So, I know you can have a range of say 5-35 as normal. Say your # is 5, they won't be concerned because it is in range, but say that number is 2, then all of a sudden its a different story.

 

[Lily]

Hi Lily,

C3 & C4 for some of us are good indicators of disease activity, moreso for me because my other tests apart from ANA are usually normal. The docs tend to follow trends with complement levels, so further retesting for you might be of some value and may show up decreasing levels over time, they did for me.

My C4 was the first to go down over time, then my C3 followed. By that time I was extremely sick and had abnormalities on urinalysis and also brain scan, along with other obvious lupus symptoms.

My C3 lab normals are .9 - 1.8 g/L , at the height of it mine came back as .3 g/L so quite a significant drop from lowest normal.

Hope this helps,

love
Lily

 

[Lily80]

Thanks Lily for the always informative replys!

 

[cath]

HI Lily,

Have you just had one set of complement blood testing? It may be telling if more were done later. A fall in complement levels, even if they haven't fallen outside of normal would indicate a real disease process. With one test only it is hard to know if that is a normal normal for you, or a relative fall.

My C3 and C4 do fall if I'm flaring - both pre-diagnosis and post diagnosis, and in both cases they fell under the normal range. I do see your point about normal ranges not always being helpful - after all they are only based on a statistical spread collected from population samples, and say nothing really about what for one individual is 'normal'.

Would your dermatologist be prepared to start you on treatment? It doesn't really matter what they call it, but what they do about it does matter, so what ever route you need to take to get treatment, I'd do it

X C X

 

[Lily80]

The dermatologist wants to go back to a rheumatologist I saw a while back who also thought it might be lupus. But, that doctor didn't even make any medicene suggestions. The dermatologist left town for the winter and won't be back for months. I called his office to see if he can refer me to a rheumatologist who he knows personally so who would be less likely to "write me off".

Regular md was going to start me on iron ivs for my low iron, but now wants me to see a Hematologist for it.

It drives me crazy that they can't collaborate and just want to pass me off. I've done this for so many years now. Its so crazy.

I might see if my regular doctor will recheck my c3 & c4 at my next visit. He "wrote off" my 2 ANA's of >1:640, so he probably won't retest the c3 and c4 given that they are within range limits, but I'll give it a try.

 

[KarolH]

Hi Lily,

What is your Iron level and do they know why it is so low?

I posted about low Iron Saturation as mine just came back at 8, re-tested and now it is a 6.

Wonder why???

 

[sheila t]

I usually have my C3 and C4 tested every couple of months by either my G.P or Rheum, as in my case it is a great indication on how my Lupus is doing. Infact my Bloods are due to be done on Monday, Rheum who I saw today has also asked for ENA and DNA tests too???
Any ideas what ENA and DNA are used for in Lupus Testing???

Thanks Sheila x

 

[greenhaggis]

Lily

Not sure if okay ranges are same (or even same in UK) but during flare that clinched lupus diagnoses alongside symptoms and family history, my ranges have been:

C3 -0.52 (before 0.84)
C4

 

[adaline]

need help on lab result

Complemant c4 serum 42 high range 9-36

c-reactive protein 12.8 high range 0.0-4.9

 

[Maia]

The CRP is a sign of inflammation; and inflammation=pain. Your c4 is a little high, but not too bad. Likewise though, C4 when elevated, is a sign of acute inflammation. Hope this helps!

 

[adaline]

thanks

thanks
not diagno.yet had bioposy done on face showed changes seen in lupus /LE
have been in lots of pain for many years crp has been high for 5 years see rhemat. in march can't wait had ana normal my GP said i do mnot have lupus this would be high i have a time with the sun and winter weather bruise alot for no reason hurts to get out of bed sometimes RA was also normal just hope the bioposy is enough thanks again