• The complement system plays an important role in innate immune response by binding to (opsonizing) and destroying pathogens, and recruiting other immune cells.
• Common complement tests including CH50 and serum C3 and C4 levels.
CH50: or total hemolytic complement (THC) is a functional assay used to detect any deficiency of the complements of the classical pathway
Serum C3 and C4 levels: used to identify certain autoimmune diseases causing a decrease in complement levels due to immune complexes formation
• Hypocomplementemia (low serum C3 and/or C4 levels) might result from decreased production (in inherited complement deficiencies or liver failure) or increased consumption by immune complexes (in various systemic autoimmune diseases and glomerular diseases).
