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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

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Published on: November 15, 2015
[Hereditary complement defects]
Insights
The complement system, a key human biological amplification system, can cause autoimmune disorders or infections when deficient. This review details complement component deficiencies, their clinical signs, and lab evaluation methods.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Human Biology
Context:
- The complement system is a critical component of innate immunity.
- Deficiencies in complement components are linked to significant health issues.
Purpose:
- To review the clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of known complement component deficiencies.
- To outline laboratory evaluation procedures for suspected complement deficiency.
Summary:
- Hereditary deficiencies in complement components can result in autoimmune diseases, recurrent bacterial infections, or non-atopic cutaneous edema.
- This review consolidates current knowledge on the clinical presentation and underlying mechanisms of these deficiencies.
- Diagnostic laboratory evaluation protocols are presented for affected individuals.
Impact:
- Enhances understanding of complement system's role in health and disease.
- Provides a clinical and diagnostic guide for healthcare professionals managing complement deficiencies.
- Aids in the early identification and management of patients with recurrent infections or autoimmune conditions.
Abstract:
The complement system is one of the most important and best analyzed biological amplification systems in humans. Hereditary deficiency states of one of the components may lead to various autoimmune disorders, recurrent bacterial infections or recurrent cutaneous edema in non-atopic subjects. This review makes an attempt to describe clinics and pathophysiology of the component deficiencies known to date. A procedure for laboratory evaluation of patients with suspected complement deficiency is described.
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