Complement Component C4a, Plasma - During activation of the classical or lectin pathway of complement, C4 is cleaved into C4a and C4b. C4a is rapidly cleaved to the more stable form C4a-des-arg. Even if total C3 and C4 levels are not low (because of increased production by the liver during acute inflammation), elevated levels of C4a-des-arg indicate recent complement pathway activation.
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