Complement Test for Lupus - Topic Overview
A complement test uses a blood sample to detect a group of proteins that help the body attack foreign substances.
When there are a lot of foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria or viruses, a low level of complement means the body is trying to get rid of the foreign substances. If the body is attacking its own tissues instead of foreign substances (as in autoimmune diseases such as lupus), a low level of complement may mean that the body is attacking and damaging tissues such as the kidneys.
Understanding Lupus -- the Basics
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system mistakes the body's own tissues as foreign invaders and attacks them. Some people with lupus suffer only minor inconvenience. Others suffer significant lifelong disability. Lupus affects people of African, Asian, or Native American descent three times as often as it affects whites. Nine out of 10 people with lupus are women. The disease usually strikes between age 15 and 45, although it can occur in older individuals. There...
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The complement test can be repeated at regular intervals to monitor disease progression.
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