Serum concentrations of complement C3 and C4 in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Abstract

Background: High concentrations of complement factors are presented in serum of animal epilepsy models and human patients with epilepsy. Objectives: To determine whether complement dysregulation occurs in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Animals: The study included 49 dogs with IE subgrouped into treatment (n = 19), and nontreatment (n = 30), and 29 healthy dogs. Methods: In this case-control study, the serum concentrations of the third (C3) and fourth (C4) components of the complement system were measured using a canine-specific ELISA kit. Results: Serum C3 and C4 concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with IE (C3, median; 4.901 [IQR; 3.915-6.673] mg/mL, P 3 times/month had significantly higher serum C3 (6.461 [4.695-8.735] mg/mL; P