People With ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Have Higher Blood Levels Of C4d, Research Finds

ANCA Vasculitis News (4/7, Lobo) reports, “People with ANCA-associated vasculitis have significantly higher blood levels of C4d, a protein that reflects activation of the classic or lectin complement pathways of the immune system, a study in Sweden suggests.” Investigators found that “patients with self-reactive antibodies, called ANCAs, against the proteinase-3 protein had significantly higher blood Cd4 levels and a higher C4d/C4 ratio than those with antibodies against the myeloperoxidase protein.” Additionally, “C4d levels were found to drop with treatment to induce disease remission.” The findings were published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.