J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1980 Jun;23(6):474-478.

Serum C3 Levels in Acute Poststerptococcal Glomerulonephritis

• Sul JH
• Lee C
• Kim PK
• Yun DJ

Abstract

Acute Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is generally stated to be the most common cause of acute nephritis in childhood. The activity of serum complement has been studied in various diseases in an attempt to accumulate evidence of antigen-antibody reaction. In acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, several investigators have reported a decrease in serum complement early in the course of disease. This paper reports on observation of serum C3 levels in 41 cases of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis which were collected from department of pediatrics, Yonsei University Medical College, from Aug 1978 to March 1979 The results were as follows : 1. The mean value of serum C3 concetration in this group as a whole was lower than in the control group and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.001) 2. The initial reduction of serum C3 concentration did not correlate with the severity of the acute phase of the disease. 3. In those children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, Serum C3 concentration returned to normal within 6 weeks.

MeSH Terms

Antigen-Antibody Reactions
Child
Complement System Proteins
Glomerulonephritis*
Humans
Nephritis
Pediatrics
Research Personnel
Complement System Proteins