Serum Complement (C3, C4) Levels in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

The C3 and C4 levels in the serum of 30 clinically detected Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) patients was studied in the present study following the guidelines of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC). The mean C3 and C4 level (mg.dl-1) in the AMI patients was increased significantly at the 5th day (146.88 ± 58.77, 37.08 ± 17.71) in comparison to the 1st day (134.51 ± 43.23, 35.09 ± 13.89) and that of the control subjects (101.55 ± 14.66, 24.77 ± 8.15). A positive correlation was found between the C3 and C4 levels in the AMI patients at 1st day (r = 0.494) and 5th day (r = 0.195). The difference between the mean of C3 and C4 levels in the AMI patients and that of the control subjects was found significant at 1st day (C3: t58 = 3.956, P < 0.001; C4: t58 = 3.513, P < 0.001) and 5th day (C3: t58 = 4.099, P < 0.001; C4: t58 = 3.458, P < 0.001). The C3 and C4 levels between the 1st day and 5th day of AMI showed an insignificant difference (C3: F2,27 = 2.769, P > 0.05; C4: F2,27 = 2.129, P > 0.05). However, serum C3 and C4 levels were significantly increased in AMI patients in comparison to the healthy control subjects. In the present study it was observed that the activation of complement system occurs after AMI and it is suggestive of an acute phase and inflammatory response.