Question 1

what does a test result for c3 low and c4 normal? c3 value is 11.69

Accepted Answer

Autoimmune disease: The complement system is a group of proteins that move freely through your bloodstream. The proteins work with your immune system and play a role in the development of inflammation. C3 deficiency is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, and different forms of kidney disease (glomerulonephritis). You can inherit a deficiency in your complement C3, but it's much more common to acquire it.

Question 2

can you have a normal ch50 (total complement) blood test result, but still have low c3 and/or c4 levels?...or would low c3 or c4 show up on ch50 test?

Accepted Answer

CH50 is...: A test for both complement defieincy (congenital or caused by consumption).  You should not have a normal ch50 with decreased C3  and/or C4 levels! C3 should be rarely ordered. C2 is best paired with c4!

Question 3

normal -actin antibody, p-anca, c-anca. elevated -atypical panca 1:160 ,alkaline phosphatase 129, c3(176) c4 (50)
what could cause these results?

Accepted Answer

Rheumatologist: These highly specialized lab values are often ordered when looking for certain autoimmune disorders. Most primary care physicians are not so familiar with these tests and I feel that a rheumatologist is best qualified to evaluate the specific patient,then order the appropriate tests and interpret them. In other words, the significance of your tests have to be interpreted considering your symptoms.

Question 4

emg show chronic bilateral denervation & nerve root involvement mainly c3 and c4 but also c5. is this more indicative of myelopathy or radiculpathy? multple mris reported as normal. don't understand the discrepancy between symptoms, emg results & mri?

Accepted Answer

Clinical correlation: Those findings on EMG are specific for RADICULOPATHY (involvement of nerve root) although generally the "denervation" can be from myelopathy, radiculopathy, and/or other problems.  I would doubt the MRIs are actually "normal", however it COULD be (rare as it may be) in multiple nerve root stretch/avulsion injuries not seen on MRI.  Such discrepancies can often be mitigated by a good history &amp; exam

Question 5

complement c4 is .12 (normal is .14 -.54) is it worth getting repeated.

Accepted Answer

Yes, piece of mind: Complement deficiency is rare but requires a fairly extensive work-up by an immunologist. A simple repeat of this test could offer some direction particularly if asymtomatic.

Question 6

are c3 and c4 just a snapshot or does a decline over time indicate an issue? c3 is low end normal and c4 is normal.

Accepted Answer

Are you referring to: complement C3 and C4 levels? They are snapshots of what is going on with your immune system, but they tend not to vary much over a period of weeks.  They are reliable indicators of immune efficiency, or deficiency if applicable, over a period of time.   Hopefully you were not taking the test because of autoimmune reasons.

Question 7

what could be going on if my ch50 ,c3 and,c4  test results are all extremely high?

Accepted Answer

They are nonspecific: Even a mild viral illness can cause complement components to skyrocket. They're just doing their job. There are first and foremost a guide to activity once a diagnosis has been made; yours were perhaps ordered for a baseline.

Question 8

if my c3 was 136 and my c4 was 36.9, do these results indicate lupus or sarcoidosis?

Accepted Answer

Neither.: C3 and C4 depletion but not elevation is characteristic for active lupus. Elevation is not specific for any disease.

Question 9

i have lost of normal t2 disc signal intensity is especially at c4-5, c5-6 and c6-7, what exactly does that mean?

Accepted Answer

Probably Degen Disc: Loss of disc t2w signal indicates drying out, loss of some water content, commonly seen with intervertebral disc degenerative changes.

Question 10

what does it mean if my complement c3 serum was 4 points low on a scale of 90-180 and my c4 was normal? could there be something wrong?

Accepted Answer

Not really: If all other tests are negative and there is no evidence of autoimmune antibodies, one number does not carry enough meaning to be worrisome.

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Doctor answers about:

Normal results for C4

A member asked:

What does a test result for c3 low and c4 normal? c3 value is 11.69

A member asked:

Can you have a normal ch50 (total complement) blood test result, but still have low c3 and/or c4 levels?...or would low c3 or c4 show up on ch50 test?

A member asked:

Normal -actin antibody, p-anca, c-anca. elevated -atypical panca 1:160 ,alkaline phosphatase 129, c3(176) c4 (50) what could cause these results?

A member asked:

Emg show chronic bilateral denervation & nerve root involvement mainly c3 and c4 but also c5. is this more indicative of myelopathy or radiculpathy? multple mris reported as normal. don't understand the discrepancy between symptoms, emg results & mri?

A member asked:

Complement c4 is .12 (normal is .14 -.54) is it worth getting repeated.

A member asked:

Are c3 and c4 just a snapshot or does a decline over time indicate an issue? c3 is low end normal and c4 is normal.

A member asked:

What could be going on if my ch50 ,c3 and,c4 test results are all extremely high?

A member asked:

If my c3 was 136 and my c4 was 36.9, do these results indicate lupus or sarcoidosis?

A member asked:

I have lost of normal t2 disc signal intensity is especially at c4-5, c5-6 and c6-7, what exactly does that mean?

A member asked:

What does it mean if my complement c3 serum was 4 points low on a scale of 90-180 and my c4 was normal? could there be something wrong?

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