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[The association between deficiency of terminal complement components and the occurrence of meningococcal meningitis]
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka.
Insights
Individuals with complement deficiencies, such as the ninth component of complement (C9) deficiency, show increased susceptibility to meningococcal meningitis. This study highlights the link between complement system defects and this serious infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Meningococcal meningitis is a severe bacterial infection.
- Sporadic cases often lack a clear epidemiological link.
- The role of the complement system in host defense against Neisseria meningitidis is crucial.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of complement component deficiencies in patients with sporadic meningococcal meningitis.
- To determine if specific complement deficiencies are associated with increased risk.
Summary:
- Seventeen patients with sporadic meningococcal meningitis were assessed for complement deficiencies.
- Four patients had C9 deficiency, four had C7 deficiency, and one had C5 deficiency.
- Family studies indicated hereditary nature of these deficiencies.
- A significantly higher susceptibility to meningococcal meningitis was observed in individuals with C9 deficiency compared to the general population.
Impact:
- This research underscores the importance of the complement system, particularly C9, in protecting against meningococcal disease.
- It suggests complement deficiency screening may be valuable for individuals with recurrent or severe infections.
- The findings contribute to understanding the genetic predisposition to infectious diseases.
Abstract:
Seventeen patients with sporadic meningococcal meningitis, registered in Fukuoka city, were studied for complement deficiency. Four of the seventeen had a selective deficiency of the ninth component of the complement (C9), four had a deficiency of the seventh component of the complement (C7), and one had a deficiency of the fifth component of the complement (C5) as determined by both hemolytic and antigenic assay. Family studies suggested that these complement deficiencies in the present study were hereditary. Based on the incidence (0.036% of homozygous C9 deficiency in Fukuoka (171 C9 deficient individuals of 475, 886 blood donors), we have concluded that patients with C9 deficiency are more susceptible to meningococcal meningitis than normal individuals (p less than 0.001). In addition, the present study further supports that complement deficiency is common in patients with sporadic meningococcal meningitis.