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Complement factor I deficiency with recurrent aseptic meningitis
A J Bonnin1, H J Zeitz, A Gewurz
1Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill.
Archives of Internal Medicine
|June 14, 1993
Summary
Total deficiency of factor I, a complement protein, can lead to recurrent aseptic meningitis, not just bacterial infections. This finding expands understanding of factor I
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Factor I deficiency typically causes pyogenic bacterial infections.
- The complement system is crucial for immune defense.
Observation:
- A patient with total factor I deficiency presented with nine episodes of aseptic meningitis over two years.
- No history of bacterial sepsis was noted, and meningitis recurred despite antibiotic prophylaxis.
Findings:
- Serum complement levels were low for C3, factor B, and factor H, with undetectable factor I.
- The patient had a minimally elevated antinuclear antibody titer but no other immune defects.
Implications:
- Factor I deficiency may predispose individuals to aseptic meningitis.
- This expands the known clinical spectrum of complement deficiencies.
- Highlights the role of complement in non-bacterial meningitis pathogenesis.