MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS ASSOCIATED WITH PERSISTENT HYPOCOMPLEMENTEMIA DUE TO CIRCULATING C-3 NEPHRITIC FACTOR

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (1) , 153-156
Abstract
Two teenage patients who presented with meningococcal meningitis had persistently low C3 [complement component C3] levels even after recovery. This was accompanied by circulating C3 nephritic factor, which persisted for > 12 mo. in each case. Neither patient had evidence of partial lipodystrophy or of glomerulonephritis initially; 1 patient subsequently developed mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis following a 2nd admission with pneumococcal pneumonia. Apparently, the generation of the nephritic factor was initiated during the presenting illness.