Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
Published on: November 5, 2019
[Combined-heterozygous deficiency of complement C7 in a patient with recurrent meningitis]
Rebecca Schirinzi1, Jean Pierre Lantin, Véronique Frémeaux-Bacchi
1Innere Medizin B, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland, and Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
Background:
The association between complement deficiencies and the increased risk for meningococcal infections and bacterial meningitis is well described and most striking in patients with deficiencies of one of the late complement components, i.e., C5-C9.
Case Report:
In the presented study the first case of a patient with combined-heterozygous deficiency of complement C7 is described. The defect led to a strongly reduced but still measurable production of C7. However, the low concentration of C7 was not protective against recurrent bacterial meningitis.
Conclusion:
The reported case illustrates once again the necessity of complement analysis in patients with meningitis. Not only patients with undetectable complement activity but also those with strongly reduced but still measurable complement function should be analyzed for a possible complement deficiency.
More Related Videos
07:26High-resolution Melting PCR for Complement Receptor 1 Length Polymorphism Genotyping: An Innovative Tool for Alzheimer's Disease Gene Susceptibility Assessment
Published on: July 18, 2017
11:40Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
Published on: April 1, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Complement System
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Viral Meningitis