SynthesisFrontiers in immunology2022
Pitfalls in complement analysis: A systematic literature review of assessing complement activation.
Synthesis in Frontiers in immunology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review of the complement components as potential biomarkers of pre-eclampsia: pitfalls and opportunities.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Pooled it
- Serum C3 in CKD: a promising stage-associated signal, but not yet a progression-monitoring biomarker.International urology and nephrology · 2026Article
- Targeting the Complement-Microglia Axis for Neuroprotection in Pediatric Epilepsy.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Biomarkers in the Management of Complement-Mediated Kidney Diseases in the Era of Complement Therapeutics.Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN · 2026Review
- Postpartum TMA requiring dialysis with discordant complement tests: a case report.CEN case reports · 2026Article
- The complement system in Alzheimer's disease: evaluating biomarker potential in a complex neuroimmune context.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2026Review
- A framework for blood biomarker discovery in MS.Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2026Review
- Activation of the C3a-C3aReceptor-axis is associated with endothelial dysfunction and glycocalyx damage in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.Basic research in cardiology · 2026Article
- Implantation of a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated with a Significant and Transient Acute Thromboinflammatory Response.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Complement Dysregulation in Kidney Diseases: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Emerging Targeted Therapies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Recommended Medical Investigations in Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- The fc fragment of IgMs binds C1q to activate the first step of the classical complement pathway, while inhibiting complement-dependent cytotoxicity.The FEBS journal · 2026Article
- Comprehensive analysis of complement activation in a hydroxyurea-treated patient cohort with sickle cell disease.Blood advances · 2026Article
- Complement activation in patients with post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Immune-endothelial-coagulation crosstalk as a driver of multi-organ dysfunction in severe viral pneumonia.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Point-of-care assessment of complement activation in the ICU: a feasibility study of rapid terminal complement complex detection in critical illness.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Differential complement pathways and components in the clinical spectrum of systemic lupus erythematosus.Arthritis research & therapy · 2025Article
- Current regulatory requirements for assessment of immunogenicity for gene therapy medicinal products.Cell reports. Medicine · 2025Review
- Complement Activation and Hemolysis in Non-human Primates Following Transfusion of Genetically Modified Pig Red Blood Cells.Annals of laboratory medicine · 2025Article
- The role of complement in long COVID pathogenesis.JCI insight · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The complement system is an essential component of our innate defense and plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Assessment of complement activation is critical in monitoring both disease progression and response to therapy. Complement analysis requires accurate and standardized sampling and assay procedures, which has proven to be challenging. Objective: We performed a systematic analysis of the current methods used to assess complement components and reviewed whether the identified studies performed their complement measurements according to the recommended practice regarding pre-analytical sample handling and assay technique. Results are supplemented with own data regarding the assessment of key complement biomarkers to illustrate the importance of accurate sampling and measuring of complement components. Methods: A literature search using the Pubmed/MEDLINE database was performed focusing on studies measuring the key complement components C3, C5 and/or their split products and/or the soluble variant of the terminal C5b-9 complement complex (sTCC) in human blood samples that were published between February 2017 and February 2022. The identified studies were reviewed whether they had used the correct sample type and techniques for their analyses. Results: A total of 92 out of 376 studies were selected for full-text analysis. Forty-five studies (49%) were identified as using the correct sample type and techniques for their complement analyses, while 25 studies (27%) did not use the correct sample type or technique. For 22 studies (24%), it was not specified which sample type was used. Conclusion: A substantial part of the reviewed studies did not use the appropriate sample type for assessing complement activation or did not mention which sample type was used. This deviation from the standardized procedure can lead to misinterpretation of complement biomarker levels and hampers proper comparison of complement measurements between studies. Therefore, this study underlines the necessity of general guidelines for accurate and standardized complement analysis.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.