[Complement C3 and C4 levels in serum from acute viral hepatitis].

Serial measurements of C3 and C4 complement components were performed in 50 patients with acute, uncomplicated viral hepatitis, in the beginning of the symptoms and in the peaks of serum transaminases. There were 17 patients diagnosed as having Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and 33 patients diagnosed as having Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. There were 4 women and 46 men with a mean age of 22.1 years. In the sera of 50 healthy control subjects serum C3 and C4 complement components measured, this group was composed of 15 women and 35 men with a mean age of 26 years. The complement component levels were observed to be reduced in both viral infections, where the reduction in C3 serum concentration was found to be statistically significant but reduction in C4 serum concentration was not.