All issues > Volume 32(7); 1989

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1989;32(7):965-971. Published online July 31, 1989.

A Trend of Serum C3 and C4 levels in Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephirtis.

Dong Seok Choi¹, Young Hun Chung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Dae Jeon, Korea

Received: December 10, 1988;  Accepted: December 30, 1988.

Abstract

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is generally stated to be the most common cause of acute nephritis in childhood and secondary to an immunologic mechanism. In acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, there have been several reports on the change of serum complement levels in the course of disease. This paper reports on observation of change of serum C3 & C4 levels and its clinical significance in 41 cases of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis who were admitted in department of pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, from March 1985 to February 1988. The results were as follows: 1) Comparing with control group, initial serum C3 levels were reduced in most cases (98%) and initial serum C4 levels were reduced in 41% (p< 0.001). 2) The initial reduction of serum C3 levels was not correlated with 24hrs urine protein, creatinine clearance, duration of proteinuria and hematuria
Keywords :Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, Serum C3 & C4 levels