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. 2012 Sep;22(5):353-7.
doi: 10.4103/0971-4065.103911.

Anti-C1q antibodies and their association with complement components in Indian systemic lupus erythematosus patients

V Pradhan  1 , A Rajadhyaksha, G Mahant, P Surve, M Patwardhan, S Dighe, K Ghosh
Affiliations

Anti-C1q antibodies and their association with complement components in Indian systemic lupus erythematosus patients

V Pradhan et al. Indian J Nephrol. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype autoimmune disease, characterized by immune complex formation and systemic inflammation. Complement components such as C1q and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) play an important role in the clearance of immune complexes. Anti-C1q antibodies are associated with lupus nephritis and reduced levels of the complement components. The objective of this study was to detect anti-C1q antibodies in SLE patients and to evaluate their association with the complement components. Sixty SLE patients were included, of whom 75% had lupus nephritis (LN) and 25% were without renal manifestations (non-LN). The disease activity was assessed at the time of evaluation by the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI). Anti-C1q antibodies, circulating immune complexes, and serum MBL levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The anti-C1q antibody prevalence was 58.3%. The LN patients showed 60% anti-C1q positivity with a higher percentage in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patients (51.9%). Anti-dsDNA positivity was slightly higher among the anti-C1q positives than in the anti-C1q negatives (65.7% vs. 60%). A higher percentage of reduced C3 and C4 levels was noted among the anti-C1q positives. The LN patients showed a higher percentage of low MBL levels among anti-C1q negatives than in the anti-C1q positives (61.1% vs. 55.6%). Non-LN patients showed a higher percentage of low MBL levels among anti-C1q positives than among anti-C1q negatives (87.5% vs. 57.1%). Anti-C1q antibodies were found in both LN and non-LN patients, but there was no correlation with the clinical severity of the disease.

Keywords: Anti-C1q antibodies; C3; C4; SLE without nephritis (non-LN); lupus nephritis; mannose-binding lectin; systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of anti-C1q antibodies and clinical severity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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