P179	Complement factor C3 is elevated in South Asian subjects and correlates with features of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome.
R.Somani, P.Grant, K.Kain, A.Catto, A.Carter
University of Leeds, Leeds, GB.

Background: South Asians (SA) are at high risk of an ischemic stroke compared with Caucasians, and this risk is further increased in first-degree relatives of patients with ischemic stroke. Complement factor C3 is an emerging risk factor for thrombosis; however the relationship with risk for ischemic stroke is unclear. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that C3 is elevated in first-degree relatives of SA patients with ischemic stroke compared with healthy SA controls and healthy Caucasian controls with no family history of ischemic stroke. Methods: We recruited 143 first-degree relatives of SA patients with ischemic stroke, 141 age and sex-matched SA controls and 115 matched Caucasian controls. Subjects provided a medical history and a fasting blood sample for the measurement of C3, features of the insulin resistance syndrome and hemostatic factors. Data were analyzed with SPSS v12.0 and presented as mean (95% confidence intervals). Results: C3 levels in the SA relatives [1.25 (1.21, 1.29) g/L] were similar to those in the SA controls [1.20 (1.15, 1.24) g/L, P=0.2]. However, the levels in both SA groups were significantly higher than the Caucasian controls [0.95 (0.92, 0.98) g/L; P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively]. Levels of C3 correlated with features of the insulin resistance syndrome, as has been previously reported. In addition, C3 correlated with the hemostatic factors PAI-1, tPA and fibrinogen, as shown. Correlations Between C3 and Haemostatic Factors. (*P<0.05)   SA relatives SA controls Caucasian controls PAI-1 0.237* 0.348* 0.146 tPA 0.202* 0.366* 0.196 Fibrinogen 0.354* 0.447* 0.196 Conclusion: We have shown that C3 is significantly higher in SA subjects regardless of family history of ischemic stroke. C3 correlated with hemostatic cardiovascular risk factors in addition to features of the insulin resistance syndrome. These data suggest that being a SA may be a stroke risk equivalent irrespective of family

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