SERUM COMPLEMENT FACTORS IN HUMAN ACUTE-PANCREATITIS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (5) , 261-263
Abstract
C3 [complement component 3], C4 and total hemolytic activity of serum C were measured in 35 patients with acute pancreatitis and were normal or raised in 24 patients (23 survivors). In 3 other patients, C values were low initially, but returned to normal with clinical recovery. In the remaining 8 patients serum C factors were generally lowered or declined during the course of the disease; all died from hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Thus, lowered C factors may be an unfavorable prognostic sign for the course of the disease. Reasons for the decline may be protein loss, blood coagulation disturbances or intrapancreatic activation of C. The latter possibility is supported by the immunohistological detection of C3 deposits surrounding parenchymal necroses in 2 patients.

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