Soluble concentrations of the terminal complement complex C5b-9 correlate with end-organ injury in preeclampsia.

Abstract

We sought to determine if soluble levels of C5b-9, the terminal complement complex, correlate with end-organ injury in preeclampsia. Project COPA (Complement and Preeclampsia in the Americas), a multi-center observational study in Colombia from 2015 to 2016, enrolled hypertensive pregnant women into four groups: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with severe features. Trained coordinators collected clinical data, blood and urine. End-organ injury was defined by serum creatinine≥1.0mg/dl, aspartate transaminase≥70U/L, platelet count<150,000/µl, or lactate dehydrogenase≥500 U/L. Data were analyzed by χ2 or Fisher's exact test with significance at P<0.05. C5b-9 concentrations in plasma and urine, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. In total, 298 hypertensive participants were enrolled. Plasma and urine C5b-9 levels were measured in all participants and stratified by quartile (Q1-4), from lowest to highest C5b-9 concentration. Participants with low plasma C5b-9 levels (Q1) were more likely to have end-organ injury compared to those with higher levels (Q2-Q4) [platelet count<150,000/μl (20.8% vs. 8.4%, P=0.01); elevated serum creatinine≥1.0mg/dl (14.9% vs. 4.5%, P=0.009)]. In contrast, participants with high urinary C5b-9 levels (Q4) were more likely to have end-organ injury compared to those with lower levels (Q1-Q3) [platelet count<150,000/μl (19.7% vs. 7.4%, P=0.003); elevated serum creatinine≥1.0mg/dl (12.3% vs. 4.4%, P=0.025)]. We identified a pattern of increased urine and low plasma C5b-9 levels in patients with preeclampsia and end-organ injury. Soluble C5b-9 levels may be used to identify complement-mediated end-organ injury in preeclampsia.