C3 Nephritic Factor

C3 Nephritic Factor (C3NeF) is an autoantibody, a type of protein produced by the immune system that mistakenly targets itself. Specifically, it stabilizes a part of the immune system called the complement system, causing excessive activation. This abnormal activation can attack the kidneys’ filtering units, leading to inflammation and damage, which often results in kidney problems like dense deposit disease or C3 glomerulonephritis. Detecting C3NeF helps doctors understand these conditions and guides treatment strategies aimed at controlling immune activity to protect kidney function.