OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between serum complement levels (C3 and C4) and obstetric complications. METHODS: Fifty-seven pregnancies in primary APS (PAPS) patients were compared with 49 pregnancies in patients with UCTD and SS. A group of 175 healthy pregnant women were studied to calculate a normality range for C3 and C4 during pregnancy. Such a range was applied to define hypocomplementaemia in PAPS and UCTD/SS. RESULTS: Both groups of patients (PAPS and UCTD/SS) showed significantly lower levels of C3 and C4 in each trimester as compared with healthy women; conversely, no significant difference was found between PAPS and UCTD/SS. Comparing PAPS pregnancies with and without complications, no difference was found in the prevalence of low C3 or low C4. CONCLUSION: No association was found between hypocomplementaemia and obstetric complications in PAPS. However, both cases of pre-eclampsia were characterized by low C3 throughout pregnancy. There is evidence that the complement system is a contributor to the mechanisms of aPL-mediated damage, but its predictive role on the final pregnancy outcome does not seem to be of major impact.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between serum complement levels (C3 and C4) and obstetric complications. METHODS: Fifty-seven pregnancies in primary APS (PAPS) patients were compared with 49 pregnancies in patients with UCTD and SS. A group of 175 healthy pregnant women were studied to calculate a normality range for C3 and C4 during pregnancy. Such a range was applied to define hypocomplementaemia in PAPS and UCTD/SS. RESULTS: Both groups of patients (PAPS and UCTD/SS) showed significantly lower levels of C3 and C4 in each trimester as compared with healthy women; conversely, no significant difference was found between PAPS and UCTD/SS. Comparing PAPS pregnancies with and without complications, no difference was found in the prevalence of low C3 or low C4. CONCLUSION: No association was found between hypocomplementaemia and obstetric complications in PAPS. However, both cases of pre-eclampsia were characterized by low C3 throughout pregnancy. There is evidence that the complement system is a contributor to the mechanisms of aPL-mediated damage, but its predictive role on the final pregnancy outcome does not seem to be of major impact.
Authors: Mimi Y Kim; Marta M Guerra; Elianna Kaplowitz; Carl A Laskin; Michelle Petri; D Ware Branch; Michael D Lockshin; Lisa R Sammaritano; Joan T Merrill; T Flint Porter; Allen Sawitzke; Anne M Lynch; Jill P Buyon; Jane E Salmon Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2018-01-25 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Elizabeth Sarmiento; Jonathan Dale; Mauricio Arraya; Antonio Gallego; Nallibe Lanio; Joaquin Navarro; Javier Carbone Journal: Autoimmune Dis Date: 2014-05-29
Authors: Micaela Fredi; Laura Andreoli; Elena Aggogeri; Elisa Bettiga; Maria Grazia Lazzaroni; Véronique Le Guern; Andrea Lojacono; Nathalie Morel; Jean Charles Piette; Sonia Zatti; Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau; Angela Tincani Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-05-07 Impact factor: 7.561