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What Causes Elevated C4a Levels?

Posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2015

Question: I got bit by a tick in July. I had the Western blot test done in September
Only tested positive for p41. Did the XXXXXXX test in January that came back
Neg. Did another western blot in March only tested positive for p41, also did Igg & Igm for babesia, Bartonella, and borrelia came back neg, C4a is 962.5 I am not exposed to mold but have hashimottos. Would you suspect Lyme because c4a is high? And what is p41?do most people have p41?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
p41 is not specific. Other causes of C4a elevation need to be evaluated.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Since the other tests are negative, I would worry less about Lyme's disease. But let me mention that the causes of elevations in C4a are fairly limited and could include the following:
1. Acute pancreatitis
2. Rheumatologic disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as immune complex diseases such as serum sickness
3. Exercise
4. As you mentioned, spirochete infection especially Lyme disease.
5. AIDS

p41 is protein called flagellin. It is a major component of the bacterial tail found in those bacterial that are flagellated, i.e. have a motile tail, similar in function to that on a sperm cell. p41 is found on many bacteria that (seemingly) and not only the bacteria causing Lyme's disease but also many enteric pathogens such as Campylobacter, Giardia, etc. I am therefore skipping to answer if most people with Lyme's disease have p41 positivity (the answer is a yes actually, but it is not specific).

If you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (16 hours later)

The rest of my blood work is normal, accept for TSH is.318 and thyroglobulin antibody is 4.1 indicating hashimotos, ruled out aides, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis . Could you explain why exercise would
Cause C4a to rise. I have been sick with something so haven’t got much exercise my muscles are in atrophy. Would lack of exercise cause c4a to rise? Or could
hashimotos autoimmune be a cause?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Conditions like Chronic fatigue syndrome are characerized by immune respons

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond back earlier.

Conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome are characterized by altered immune response especially in response to exercise causing C4a levels to rise. The following scientific literature might be relevant to you:
http://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/transfusionsmedizin/institut/eir/content/2014/94/article.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000

However, it could also be related to Hashimoto's. The following links might help:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/

Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (6 hours later)

Thanks for all that info. Just want to ask if hashomottos could cause my calves to
Swell and any suggestion to do to prevent that from happening. Blood work ok
Not high in sodium. Appreciate all your help. Have a Happy Easter!

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It is unlikely to be related.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.

Wish you a Happy Easter.

Hashimoto's is unlikely to cause the calves to swell. There is probably some other pathology involved.

If you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.

Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar