Low levels of complement may be due to inherited deficiencies, acquired deficiencies, or due to complement consumption (eg, as a consequence of infectious or autoimmune processes).
Absent (or low) C2 levels in the presence of normal C3 and C4 values are consistent with a C2 deficiency.
Low C2 levels in the presence of low C3 and C4 values are consistent with a complement-consumptive process.
Low C2 and C4 values, in the presence of normal values for C3 is suggestive of C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency.