I recently had blood work done and high complement C3 and C4 levels which I read is either from cancer or chronic infection. Yet, if complement C4 level is found to be raised, it cannot be considered as a 'stand-alone" parameter to definitively a medical condition. Dr. Jack Mutnick agrees. The term complement means it is able to kill bacteria and contributes to immune defenses. Possible causes of elevated complement levels include: cancer, viral infections, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmunity (psoriasis, ulcerative colitis). The significance of the Complement C4 Blood Test result is explained. C4A is part of a "complement" group. Therefore, the complement system response to inflammation and infection may play an important role in MetS expression. 6.7k views Reviewed >2 years ago. High complement C4 levels do not necessarily mean that you may have cancer or some major illnesses. Simply having an increased test reading is not an indication that cancer is present. Complement C4a - Lab Results explained | HealthMatters.io 1. A low value (less than 15 mg/dL) for the test may indicate: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Most people, however, will have a test result that comes back as normal. The complement C4 test is one of the most frequently used complement component tests. Increase of serum complement levels in cancer patients ... Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‑related mortality worldwide. The classic complement pathway consists of recognition, (C1q, C1r, C1s), activation (C2, C3, C4), and attack (C5, C6, C7, C8, C9) mechanisms with respect to their . What is Complement C4? After researching, I cant find much about what high complement levels mean. It can be activated via immune complexes (classic pathway) or by bacterial polysaccharides (alternative pathway). Immunoglobulins and complement components in patients with ... A 40-year-old member asked: No statistically significant differences were found between the levels of the studied parameters and the stage of the disease and the survival time of patients. Higher-than-normal complement C4 values may be a sign of cancer, ulcerative colitis, and inflammation in general. In certain cases, increased levels as a test result for the C3 and C4 blood tests may also be an indication of cancer. Low levels may point to autoimmune disease, including lupus. Simply having an increased test reading is not an indication that cancer is present. 35 Furthermore, C1q expression was reduced in human prostate . Cirrhosis. The complement system is an integral part of the immune defenses. It helps clear infections and protects against autoimmunity. Therefore, the complement system response to inflammation and infection may play an important role in MetS expression. Complement C4 levels may vary even in different individuals having the same kind of illness. The normal range for a complement C4 blood test is 16 to 48 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 0.16 to 0.48 grams per liter (g/L). Activation of the alternative pathway begins with the C3 molecule. The most common would be a bacterial infection. Measurement of serum C3 and C4 levels can provide important diagnostic information in the assessment of a patient with kidney disease. High expressions of C3 and C4 are related to adipose tissue variables and involved in the development of visceral adiposity 30. 35 Furthermore, C1q expression was reduced in human prostate . The complement C4 test is one of the most frequently used complement component tests. In certain cases, increased levels as a test result for the C3 and C4 blood tests may also be an indication of cancer. Cancer. C4A is an activation protein, which means it also activates the other complement proteins to increase in level [ 1 ]. Higher-than-normal complement C4 values may be a sign of cancer, ulcerative colitis, and inflammation in general. Complement C4 is a protein that is important for your immune function. View 3 more answers. Lower-than-normal complement C4 values could indicate: bacterial infections; hepatitis Complement C4/ESR: complement C4 and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate are usually high in conditions which cause acute or chronic inflammation.These are often measured in autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, but they can be elevated in many other conditions, including cancer and heart attacks.The results need to be interpreted by your physician. A high value (greater than 45 mg/dL) for the test may indicate: Acute rheumatic fever. Despite significant research on the role of inflammation and immunosurveillance in the immunologic microenvironment of tumors, little attention has been given to the oncogenic capabilities of the complement cascade. Complement activation has been elucidated in various cancers including breast cancer and papillary thyroid carcinoma. The classical complement cascade is composed of 11 proteins and these are, in order, C1q, C1r, C1s, C4, and C2-C9. Thank. Eculizumab is the only complement inhibitor currently in clinical use in the UK and is highly effective in treating aHUS, but puts the patient at risk of infection with encapsulated organisms. High complement C4 levels do not necessarily mean that you may have cancer or some major illnesses. Complement components (C3 and C4) levels were elevated in cancer patients with different cell types compared with levels in the control group. You can get an opinion from a rheumatologist. High expressions of C3 and C4 are related to adipose tissue variables and involved in the development of visceral adiposity30. A low value (less than 15 mg/dL) for the test may indicate: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Complement C4 is a protein that is important for your immune function. I would recommend further work-up only based on worsening clinical symptoms and then targeted to those specific clinical symptoms. Cirrhosis. A high value (greater than 45 mg/dL) for the test may indicate: Acute rheumatic fever. These symptoms may include: The complement C4 test is also sometimes used to monitor protein levels . C1r and C1s assemble on C1q, C1r cleaves and activates C1s, and activated C1s cleaves C4 and C2 into C4b and C2a, respectively. Infection. This protein is part of the complement system. Leukemia, sarcoma, or Hodgkin's Lymphoma are all known to produce these compliment results. The significance of the Complement C4 Blood Test result is explained. The proteins work with your immune system and play a role in protecting from infection. Complement components (C3 and C4) levels were elevated in cancer patients with different cell types compared with levels in the control group. The C4 complement blood test can be abnormally high or abnormally low. Cancer. Probably: Complement levels are very nonspecific but can be elevated with conditions like lupus. It can be activated via immune complexes (classic pathway) or by bacterial polysaccharides (alternative pathway). 1 doctor agrees. Your complement levels will often shoot up dramatically just after an infection or injury. Patients in remission had ne … It can be activated via immune complexes (classic pathway) or by bacterial polysaccharides (alternative pathway). If a specific test comes back with a deficiency or is abnormally high, then it is important to speak with a medical provider immediately. The complement system is an integral part of the immune defenses. People with lupus normally have low complement C4 levels, especially when . Weird thing is, I thought Id run the c3 & c4 to rule out possible lupus, But mine came out on the opposite spectrum that shows lupus. Lower-than-normal complement C4 values could indicate: bacterial infections; hepatitis This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of C3 in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying mechanisms. High levels are rare, poorly understood, and may signal inflammation. I just am wondering if these complements levels being high have anything to do with my health issues. 1 doctor agrees. High complement C4 levels can also be found in people with cancer or inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis. The complement system is an integral part of the immune defenses. High levels are rare, poorly understood, and may signal inflammation. 33, 34 C1q, which functions in the initial activation of the classical pathway, upon binding to its receptor cC1qR was shown to suppress in vitro cell proliferation.