[Complement 3 level in the cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis]

Using the test of radial diffusion the absolute (mg%) and relative (% of albumin, % of total protein in cerebrospinal fluid) levels of the C3 component of the complement were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum in a group of 61 cases of multiple sclerosis, and similar determinations were carried out in the control groups of patients with neurosis and organic diseases of the central nervous system. The absolute and relative levels of the C3 component in the cerebrospinal fluid in cases of multiple sclerosis were significantly lower (p < 0,001) and were independent of the levels of total protein and albumin in the cerebrospinal fluid. The low level of C3 in the cerebrospinal fluid was due to its low level in the serum in the same cases of multiple sclerosis, and the correlation coefficient of C3 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum in this disease was r = 0.816. The C3 index studied in this work was statistically insignificantly lower in the group of multiple sclerosis with low C3 level in the cerebrospinal fluid as compared with the cases of this disease with normal C3 level in the cerebrospinal fluid. This shows that no data were obtained indicating a local consumption of complement components within the central nervous system in cases of multiple sclerosis. The possibility of a temporarily reduced complement consumption in the areas of demyelination cannot be excluded.