Serum C3 complement concentrations correlate with liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether C3 and C4 serum complement concentrations have prognostic relevance for patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODOLOGY: Serum complement concentrations of C3 and C4 were measured in 69 patients with liver cirrhosis and correlated with the Child-Pugh score.

RESULTS

C3 concentrations were 1.06+/-0.21 g/L in patients with Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis and significantly lower in Child-Pugh B (0.78+/-0.24 g/L) and even lower Child-Pugh C (0.49+/-0.14 g/L) (p=0.006 B vs. A, p<0.001 C vs. B). Patients with consecutive hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) had the lowest C3 concentrations (0.44+/-0.05 g/L (Child-Pugh C +HRS) vs. 0.54+/-0.06g/dL (Child-Pugh C -HRS); p<0.05). C4 concentrations were 0.21+/-0.08 in Child-Pugh A and significantly lower in Child-Pugh B (0.11+/-0.04) and Child-Pugh C (0.09+/-0.04) patients (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between C3 (r = -0.81, p<0.001) and C4 (r = -0.51, p<0.05) concentrations and the Child-Pugh score.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum complement concentrations of C3 and C4 correlate negatively with the Child-Pugh score in patients with liver cirrhosis. C3 concentrations are lower in those Child-Pugh C cirrhosis patients with consecutive development of HRS.