Abstract
Serum levels of complement components (C1q, C4, C3, C5, C9, C3PA and C1I), platelets, prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen concentration and fibrin degradation products were measured at admission in 93 children (mean age 3.1±2.0 y)with meningococcal infections, 86% type B. Results were compared with an age matched normal group. Patients were classified in three groups: 21 with meningitis without systemic manifestations; 39 with uncomplicated septicemia and 33 with septicemia and shock.
C1q was decreased (p<.001) in the three groups; C3 was also low but only in the last two groups was significantly diminished (p<.005). Forty-seven patients, regardless of the groups, showed a prolonged PT and 7 out of these 47 showed a disseminated intravascular coagulation. These 47 patients had lower levels of Clq (p<.02), C3 (p<.05), C5 (p<.05), C3PA (p<.005) when compared with the remaining patients with normal PT. Values of PT in all patients correlated well with the levels of C1q (p<.05), C4 (p<.01), C3 (p<.001), C5 (p<.001), C9 (p<.001) and C1I (p<.05). These results suggest that activation of the classical pathway of complement occurs in all patients with meningococcal infections, even in benign cases, and that such activation may be related to the alteration of the coagulation system.
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Garcia-Fuentes, M., Rubio, A., Arce, J. et al. Alterations of the complement and coagulation systems in meningo coccal infections: 84. Pediatr Res 14, 178 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00111
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00111