Levels of the C 4 component of the complement, lactoferrin and leukocytic thermostabile alpha glycoprotein during the treatment of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

The authors studied the dynamics of C4-component of complement (C4), lactoferrin (LF), leukocytic thermostable alpha-glycoprotein (LT alpha G) in the blood serum of 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 32 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 8 patients with systemic vasculitis under the effect of hemosorption (HS), enterosorption (ES) and also immunosuppressants (IS). In severe forms of systemic rheumatic diseases the blood serum exhibits a decreased content of C4 but an elevated level of LF and LT alpha G. It has been established that HS is more active than ES or IS, and it influences the mechanisms of humoral immunity. This finds its expression in normalization of C4 level. The favourable clinical effect of HS correlates with a decrease in the level of LF and LT alpha G in the blood serum of patients during treatment.