Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-3-23
pubmed:abstractText
Complement activation products (CAP) have been reported as sensitive markers of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have measured seven parameters of the complement system (C3, C4, factor B, C3a, C4a, iC3b, and the terminal complement complex-TCC-) in 61 SLE patients to study their interrelationship and relative efficacy as diagnostic indicators of lupus activity. Disease activity was judged according to a clinical index (SLEDAI) to be active in 22 and inactive in 39 patients. Subjects with active SLE showed increased levels of C3a, C4a, and TCC compared with those of stable lupus and normal controls, and plasma concentrations of these CAP manifested a positive correlation with disease activity scores. However, values of factor B and iC3b did not correlate with lupus flares. Serum C3 levels were a better reflection of the degree of SLE activity than were C4 levels. The anaphylatoxins were extremely sensitive markers of disease activity but they lacked enough specificity, and iC3b was not at all informative for this purpose. On the whole, TCC concentration was the most useful parameter (77% sensitivity, 80% specificity) to monitor lupus activity, correlating the best with the activity scoring system, and thus offers a better laboratory marker of lupus severity than conventional measurements of complement.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0090-1229
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
74
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
283-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
The value of complement activation products in the assessment of systemic lupus erythematosus flares.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Immunology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't