Complement consumption and progression to post-streptococcal nephrotic syndrome. A report of two cases

The immunopathogenesis of the nephrotic syndrome which occurs in about 0,3% of Black children with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis has not been clearly defined. Findings in 2 out of 582 Black children with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis who developed nephrotic syndrome suggest that minimal activation in the blood of complement components, particularly C3, early in the nephritic process may determine progression to nephrosis. Differences reported by other workers between normocomplementaemic and hypocomplementaemic patients with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis support this interpretation.