SERUM COMPLEMENT PATTERN IN ESSENTIAL MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (1) , 77-85
Abstract
In 26 patients affected by essential cryoglobulinemia, 188 determinations of serum complement [c] components (SCC) were made. A peculiar pattern was observed which was characterized by the following: low levels of early components (Clq, Cls and C4), normal levels of C3 and high concentrations of late components (C5, C9), and CH50 [total hemolytic complement] values significantly lower than normal. No relationship could be observed between early SCC and C3 levels. Thirty-three crossed immunoelectrophoreses were performed in 13 patients'' blood samples. The C3c peaks were not different from normal. Follow-up data (156 serum samples from 24 patients) during a 6-40 mo. period showed a non-homogeneous SCC behavior. No relationship was found between the C concentrations and clinical score. SCC abnormalities are probably related to a C hyposynthesis, which could be caused by a reduced C2 production or by a negative feedback effect of active components or their fragments.