Complement CH50
Complement CH50 is a blood test that can help you determine any protein deficiencies or abnormalities in the compliment system that could be responsible for an increase in autoimmune activity. Therefore, a CH50 complement system test allows you to closely monitor any autoimmune disease activity. This test is also known by other names, such as Complement CH50 Total, Complement Component C3, Complement Component C4, Complement Activity, CH50 Total Complement Activity and so on. The human complement system is made up of a set of blood proteins, circulating and working with each other. They promote inflammatory responses by giving a boost to your immunity. The main function of the blood proteins in the body is to destroy bacteria and viruses. There are nine primary components in the human complement system and the numbers designated to them range from C1 to C9. Many people believe that the complement system is the same as the acquired system. One of the differences is that the complement system does not produce any specific antibodies that destroy a viral agent on target. Therefore, the complement system does not need to be exposed to a virus in the past, in order to get rid of it. In fact, the complement system forms a part of the body’s immune system, which responds to any foreign substance immediately. This system identifies a foreign body by studying their outer membrane. In case you suspect that you are suffering from a bacterial infection, you need to undergo a Complement CH 50 test. Depending upon your symptoms and the problems that you suspect, your health care provider may recommend different tests.
What are complement CH50 normal levels?
Under normal circumstances, the total level of the blood complement should be 41 to 90 hemolytic units. Given below are the normal readings of some of the blood proteins:
• C1 Levels: 16 mg/ dl to 33 mg/ dl
• C3 Levels: 88 mg/ dl to 252 mg/ dl in men and 88 mg/ dl to 206 mg/ dl in women
• C4 Levels: 12 mg/ dl to 72 mg/ dl in men and 13 mg/ dl to 75 mg/ dl in women
It is important to bear in mind that the complement CH50 normal levels may vary a bit from one lab to the other. Therefore, it is important to refer to a health care provider to determine if the complement CH50 levels are normal or not.
What does elevated complement CH50 levels mean?
In case your test results reveal elevated complement CH50 levels, it could be an indication of certain serious health conditions, which include cancer, ulcerative colitis and infections.
What leads to low complement CH50?
It is a lot more common to see low complement CH50 levels, which is caused by several factors. In fact, low complement CH 50 can also be heredity. The deficiency of even one of the proteins in the body can lead to autoimmune diseases or recurring microbial infections. Given below are some of the conditions that low complement CH50 could be an indication of:
• Malnutrition
• Kidney transplant rejection
• Heredity angioedema
• Cirrhosis
• Lupus nephritis
• Hepatitis
• Systematic lupus erythematosis
• Glomerulonephritis
In case of low or elevated complement CH50 levels, the patient will need to undergo treatment, which includes the use of certain drugs. Once the condition causing abnormal levels is treated, the complement system usually returns to normal. However, after initiating the treatment, health care providers may conduct a complement CH50 assay test, to determine the efficiency of drugs.
The increase or decrease in the complement levels assessed by the Complement CH50 test is not always an accurate indicator of what the exact problem is. However, this test enables a doctor to determine if the immune system is involved with the ailment in any way.
It is a very common to see low complement CH50 levels, which is caused by several factors. In case your test results reveal elevated complement CH50 levels, it could be an indication of certain serious health conditions.