Abstract
The association of the complement system with the development of complications in non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was evaluated by measuring various components of the complements system. CH 50, C 3 and C 4 were significantly elevated in patients with NIDDMs as compared with healthy subjects. However, there was no difference in CH 50 and C 3 between diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy. C 4 was higher in diabetics with retinopathy/neuropathy than in diabetics without these complications. ACH 50 and C 3 d were similar in NIDDMs and healthy subjects, and were not associated with complications of NIDDM. C 3 d/C 3 in frank NIDDM was lower than in healthy subjects, but there was no significant difference between the type of complications.
Thus, NIDDM was revealed to have high levels of complements. These observations suggested that NIDDM might be associated with the classical pathway rather than the alternative pathway.
