What is the normal range for C3 and C4?
William Brown
Published Jun 17, 2026
What is the normal range for C3 and C4?
Results: Serum levels of complement (C3) ranged from 66 to 185 mg/dl. The respective levels of C4 were 15 to 52 mg/dl. These values varied significantly with age.
What is a normal C4 complement level?
Normal ranges for C4 is 15 to 45 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (0.15 to 0.45 g/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
What is a normal C3 complement level?
The normal range is 88 to 201 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (0.88 to 2.01 g/L). Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.
What does normal C3 and low C4 mean?
This is the result of an acquired disease. If your C3 and C4 levels are reduced, this may be a sign that you have lupus. Usually your total complement level is also slightly lower in this situation. Low C3 and C4 levels may also be a sign of alcoholic liver disease, but this is less common.
What if C3 and C4 are high?
High expressions of C3 and C4 are related to adipose tissue variables and involved in the development of visceral adiposity30. Therefore, the complement system response to inflammation and infection may play an important role in MetS expression.
What does a high C3 and C4 mean?
It seems that elevated C3 and C4 are likely to result of increased synthesis in the liver in response to cytokines e.g. IL-1β, IL-6 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which are increased in active CU and are known to control synthesis of the APR proteins [9].
Why is C3 and C4 low in SLE?
Lupus patients usually have low C3 and C4 levels during disease flares because of activation of the complement system by immune complexes (ICs) [1].
What is considered a low C4 complement?
Other rare conditions that may also lower C4 levels include hereditary angioedema and congenital C4 deficiency. Normal complement C4 levels in the blood are between 16 and 47 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), or 0.16 to 0.47 g/L (grams per liter).
What does C3 and C4 complement test for?
C3 and C4 are the most commonly measured complement components. A complement test may be used to monitor people with an autoimmune disorder. It is done to see if treatment for their condition is working. When the complement system is turned on during inflammation, levels of complement proteins may go down.
What does a C3 and C4 test for?
C3 & C4 Blood Test measures the levels of Complement component 3 and Complement component 4 in the blood. The complement system comprises of more than 30 proteins in the blood, that play a significant role in the body’s immune system.
Why are my complement C3 and C4 high?
What is normal range for C3 and C4?
The normal value for C3 is 75 to 135 mg/dl. C4 is also a test for the measurement of the action and function of C4 in the blood. Its normal value is 12 to 72 mg/dL in males and 13 to 75 mg/dL in females. The test is usually done by extracting an adequate amount of blood in the arm vein.
What does an elevated C3 complement mean?
Elevated C3 levels have been found in patients with diabetes and insulin resistance, but whether an elevated C3 means an increased risk of developing diabetes is still unknown. A C3 test can also be used in fungal infections, generalized infections such as septicemia (“blood poisoning”) and diseases caused by parasites, such as malaria.
What does a low C3 complement mean?
If your C3 and C4 levels are reduced, this may be a sign that you have lupus. Usually your total complement level is also slightly lower in this situation. Low C3 and C4 levels may also be a sign of alcoholic liver disease, but this is less common.
What causes low complement?
Complement levels may be decreased due to increased consumption (because of increased activation) or, more rarely, a hereditary deficiency. Hereditary deficiency in one of the complement proteins will usually lead to a high frequency of recurrent microbial infections.