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Screening for complement deficiencies in patients surviving from epidemic meningococcal disease
J M Rasmussen1, B Teisner, P Weihe
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, Odense University, Denmark.
Insights
Complement deficiencies are not a significant risk factor for meningococcal disease epidemics. A study found only one case of C3-deficiency linked to C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) among survivors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Meningococcal disease outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
- The role of complement system deficiencies in disease susceptibility requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate complement (C) system deficiencies in patients who survived meningococcal disease.
- To determine if complement deficiencies are a risk factor during meningococcal disease epidemics.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 132 patient sera for hemolytic complement function.
- Immunochemical quantification of complement proteins in samples with reduced function.
- Identification of C3-deficiency and C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF).
Main Results:
- One patient identified with C3-deficiency (6% of normal) due to C3NeF.
- Eight patients showed minor complement protein aberrations.
- C3NeF did not cross-react with Neisseria meningitidis antigens.
Conclusions:
- Complement deficiency is not a major risk factor during meningococcal disease epidemics.
- C3NeF activity is not associated with cross-reactivity to specific Neisseria meningitidis strains.
Abstract:
Sera from 132 patients surviving from meningococcal disease during the high-endemic period 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1984 on the Faroe Islands were screened for deficiencies of the complement (C) system by measuring hemolytic complement function in serum. Samples from 12 patients with reduced C function were further investigated by immunochemical quantification of individual C proteins. One patients was identified with C3-deficiency (C3-concentration 6% of normal) due to the presence of C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) in serum. In addition, eight patients had minor aberrations in one or several complement proteins. It is concluded, that C deficiency is not an important risk factor during epidemics of meningococcal disease. The C3NeF activity could not be absorbed with Neisseria meningitidis group B, type 15, indicating absence of crossreactivity between neisserial antigens and C3NeF.