HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BAINES, M. G. Articles by MILLS, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BAINES, M. G. Articles by MILLS, P.

Studies of Complement Levels in Normal Human Pregnancy

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.

An assessment of complement activity in maternal serum was done to determine if alterations in such activity might implicate immune mechanisms underlying the acceptance of the conceptus as an allograft. Two methods of assessment were performed: 1) C'3 activity as determined by immunodiffusion—a quantitative assessment of a specific protein, and 2) CH₅₀ activity as an index of functional (hemolytic) complement activity. On the basis of 478 samples of sera from pregnant women, the results obtained indicate a gradually increasing C'3 (B₁C) activity as pregnancy progresses, following a significant depression during the first trimester, and slight though significant increases in the functional complement activity as indicated by C'H, assay. The immunologic implications of these results are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. P. Dhar and R. J. Sokol Lupus and Pregnancy: Complex Yet Manageable Clin. Med. Res., December 1, 2006; 4(4): 310 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P Buyon, K. C Kalunian, R. Ramsey-Goldman, M. A Petri, M. D Lockshin, G. Ruiz-Irastorza, and M. Khamashta Assessing disease activity in SLE patients during pregnancy Lupus, October 1, 1999; 8(8): 677 - 684. [PDF]