Biomaterial Database

Reversible C3 hypocomplementaemia in megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency. 1977

M A Horton, and J F Burman

Serum C3 and C4 levels have been determined in patients with Addisonian pernicious anaemia (PA) and megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency from other causes, before and after treatment, in order to study the interaction between vitamin B12 deficiency and complement and the role of complement in the pathogenesis of the gastric lesion of PA. C3 levels are significantly reduced in vitamin B12 deficiency and return to normal on treatment; C3 levels correlate with the degree of anaemia but not with serum vitamin B12 levels at diagnosis. C4 levels are normal. These observations suggest that the observed C3 hypocomplementaemia is not a consequence of immune mechanisms, but may be due to altered synthesis of C3 complement component.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003165	Complement System Proteins	Serum glycoproteins participating in the host defense mechanism of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION that creates the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Included are glycoproteins in the various pathways of complement activation (CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; and LECTIN COMPLEMENT PATHWAY).	Complement Proteins,Complement,Complement Protein,Hemolytic Complement,Complement, Hemolytic,Protein, Complement,Proteins, Complement,Proteins, Complement System
D003176	Complement C3	A glycoprotein that is central in both the classical and the alternative pathway of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION. C3 can be cleaved into COMPLEMENT C3A and COMPLEMENT C3B, spontaneously at low level or by C3 CONVERTASE at high level. The smaller fragment C3a is an ANAPHYLATOXIN and mediator of local inflammatory process. The larger fragment C3b binds with C3 convertase to form C5 convertase.	C3 Complement,C3 Precursor,Complement 3,Complement C3 Precursor,Complement Component 3,Precursor-Complement 3,Pro-C3,Pro-Complement 3,C3 Precursor, Complement,C3, Complement,Complement, C3,Component 3, Complement,Precursor Complement 3,Precursor, C3,Precursor, Complement C3,Pro C3,Pro Complement 3
D003181	Complement C4	A glycoprotein that is important in the activation of CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY. C4 is cleaved by the activated COMPLEMENT C1S into COMPLEMENT C4A and COMPLEMENT C4B.	C4 Complement,C4 Complement Component,Complement 4,Complement C4, Precursor,Complement Component 4,Pro-C4,Pro-complement 4,C4, Complement,Complement Component, C4,Complement, C4,Component 4, Complement,Component, C4 Complement,Pro C4,Pro complement 4
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000748	Anemia, Macrocytic	Anemia characterized by larger than normal erythrocytes, increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH).	Anemias, Macrocytic,Macrocytic Anemia,Macrocytic Anemias
D000749	Anemia, Megaloblastic	A disorder characterized by the presence of ANEMIA, abnormally large red blood cells (megalocytes or macrocytes), and MEGALOBLASTS.	Anemias, Megaloblastic,Megaloblastic Anemia,Megaloblastic Anemias
D000752	Anemia, Pernicious	A megaloblastic anemia occurring in children but more commonly in later life, characterized by histamine-fast achlorhydria, in which the laboratory and clinical manifestations are based on malabsorption of vitamin B 12 due to a failure of the gastric mucosa to secrete adequate and potent intrinsic factor. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Addison's Anemia,Anemia, Addison's,Pernicious Anemia,Addison Anemia,Addisons Anemia,Anemia, Addison,Anemia, Addisons
D014806	Vitamin B 12 Deficiency	A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of VITAMIN B 12 in the diet, characterized by megaloblastic anemia. Since vitamin B 12 is not present in plants, humans have obtained their supply from animal products, from multivitamin supplements in the form of pills, and as additives to food preparations. A wide variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities is also seen in vitamin B 12 deficiency and appears to be due to an undefined defect involving myelin synthesis. (From Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p848)	Deficiency, Vitamin B 12,Deficiency, Vitamin B12,Vitamin B12 Deficiency,Deficiencies, Vitamin B12,Vitamin B12 Deficiencies