The relationship between weight change and C3 complement levels in patients with anorexia nervosa

Objective: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) affects whole body with serious medical disturbances and has highest death rates of any psychiatric disorder. These medical abnormalities are reversible after gaining weight and resolution of the underlying anorectic state. The changes of complement system, especially C3 in anorexia nervosa remains poorly understood. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of complement C3 levels with body weight changes.

Method: 12 female patients with anorexia nervosa were included in the study. Data were obtained from psychiatry service notes and laboratory records. Serum samples were obtained in a biweekly manner, and weight recordings of patients. Each patient have four (beginning, second, fourth and sixth week) laboratory and weight results. Repeated measures of ANOVA was used to determine changes of body mass index (BMI) and complement levels.

Results: Beginning of treatment, mean of BMI of patients: 14.96 (SD=1.70) and C3 levels 0.88 g/lt (SD=0.19), at the second week of treatment average BMI: 16.01 (SD=1.76) and C3 levels 0,96 g/lt (SD=0.21 ), at the fourth week of treatment average BMI: 16.86 (SD=2.06) and C3 levels 1.03 g/lt (SD=0.33 ), at the end of treatment (sixth week) average BMI: 17.38 (SD=1.77) and C3 levels 1.16 g/lt (SD=0,31 ) of the twelve patients. There were a significant increasing of C3 levels of patients (p=0,042) and BMI levels of patients (p=0,01). Increasing of BMI was followed by C3 level increasing.

Conclusion: Complement ‘C3’ serum levels may represent a useful marker for determining and monitoring the severity of disease in AN. The findings of this study require further investigation in future prospective large-scale trials and replication.