Complement Levels (complement + level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Antinuclear Autoantibodies, Complement Level, Hypergammaglobulinemia and Spontaneous Intrauterine Hematoma in Pregnant Women

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Jaume Alijotas
Problem: To examine the associative relationship among autoantibodies, C4 levels and intrauterine hematomas (IUH) in more detail than in the studies published earlier. Method Of Study: We performed a retrospective study of 54 women with poor obstetric outcomes. Sera were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-DNA antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), and antithyroid antibodies. C4-complement and gammaglobulin levels were also monitored. We compared the main variables in IUH complicated pregnancy group with the risk pregnancy group without IUH. We also compared these variables in the IUH cases before and during IUH. Results: Eight IUH were detected. The average number of spontaneous losses for these eight women was 3.3 ± 2.1 (range: 1,8). aPL was present in 100% of cases. ANAs and hypergammaglobulinemia were present in 50% of cases and low C4 in 87.5% of cases. After comparing these variables apart from C4 before and during IUH, we found no statistical differences. However, C4 was low in four patients before IUH and in seven patients during IUH (OR: 7.0; 95% CI: 0.57,86.33). When we compared autoantibodies apart from lupus anticoagulant (LAC) between the two groups, no differences were observed. However, seven of the eight (87.5%) patients with IUH were LAC positive whereas only 24 of the 46 patients (52.1%) were positive in the non-IUH group (OR: 6.42; 95% CI: 0.73,56.41). Rapid plasma reagin was present in 8/46 in the non-IUH group (16.7%) and 5/8 in the IUH group (62.5%) P < 0.015). Conclusions: In women with poor obstetric histories, autoantibodies, especially antiphospholid antibodies, may play a role in the IUH development especially if low C4 and/or hypergammaglobulinemia are present. [source]


Rituximab-associated acute thrombocytopenia: An under-diagnosed phenomenon,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Ron Ram
Acute infusion reactions are the most common documented adverse reactions reported with rituximab, with overt cytokine release syndrome, and hematological adverse events being much rarer. The clinical course of a patient with mantle cell lymphoma, who developed acute thrombocytopenia and leukopenia following rituximab administration, is described and the literature reviewed. Serum complement and the levels of three cytokines,TNF-,, IL-6, and IL-1, were measured 2 days after the infusion of rituximab by using ELISA assay. Drug-dependent antibodies against platelets were evaluated by two procedures as follows: an immunofluorescence test applying flow cytometry and Monoclonal Antibody Immobilization of Platelet Antigen (MAIPA). Serum levels of TNF-a were significantly increased compared with normal, whereas those of IL-6 and IL-1 were not increased significantly. Flow cytometry assay and the MAIPA assay failed to detect rituximab-dependent antibodies against platelets. Complement levels were decreased compared with normal. Literature search yielded 10 publications reporting on another 15 patients. The most common type of lymphoma was mantle cell lymphoma, six patients had bone marrow involvement, and 10 patients had splenomegaly. In 10 patients, acute cytopenia was preceded by cytokine release syndrome or infusion-related symptoms. Usually, thrombocytopenia was not associated with bleeding manifestations. Thrombocytopenia was the most commonly acute cytopenia reported. The postulated pathogenesis is associated with cytokine release syndrome and complement activation. Patients with potential risk factors like splenomegaly and bone marrow involvement, who develop clinical manifestations compatible with cytokine release syndrome, should be closely monitored for rituximab-associated cytopenia. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Testosterone and innate immune function inversely covary in a wild population of breeding Dark-Eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis)

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
T. J. GREIVES
Summary 1Innate immunity refers to the non-specific components of the primary immune response, which act broadly to destroy pathogens. Effective innate immune responses may save an individual the energetic costs associated with activating subsequent specific immune responses. 2Testosterone can suppress immune function in vitro and in vivo. Most studies examining testosterone's effects on immunity have focused on experimentally elevated testosterone and acquired immune responses (e.g. humoral and cell-mediated responses to foreign antigens). Few studies have investigated the relationship between endogenous levels of testosterone and innate immunity. 3In a wild breeding population of Dark-Eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis Linnaeus), we asked whether endogenous levels of testosterone measured at several points during the breeding season covaried with two components of innate immunity: total levels of non-specific immunoglobulin-G (IgG), and complement levels. 4Testosterone levels were significantly negatively correlated with both total IgG and complement activity. Both immune measures were also positively correlated with body mass. Taken together with experimental results from the same species, these results suggest that elevated testosterone levels may compromise innate as well as acquired immune function. [source]


Extensive xanthelasma associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2003
Mi-Woo Lee MD
A 57-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of an extensively spreading, yellowish patch on the periorbital areas and cheeks. A diagnosis of hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome had been made at the age of 22 years on the basis of an eczematous eruption, recurrent furunculosis, and a persistently elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) level. Her past medical history revealed that she had suffered from numerous recurrent bouts of chronic sinusitis, otitis media, oral candidiasis, orbital cellulitis, acne rosacea, and pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus since her twenties. In addition, 1 year ago, anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the cervical lymph node (stage IIIb) developed, and she received six cycles of cyclophosphamide,doxorubicin,vincristine,prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy with partial remission. None of her family had any of these problems. Cutaneous examination showed extensive, symmetric, noninfiltrated macular areas of distinct yellow discoloration around the eyes and on both cheeks (Fig. 1). There were also erythematous papulonodular eruptions on the nose and both cheeks, which were thought to be acne rosacea. Laboratory findings were normal, except for an elevated IgE level (8157 IU/mL). Serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM were normal. Serum complement levels were normal, as evidenced by normal C3, C4, and CH50. Although she had a previous history of a decreased level (12%) of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test (control, 53%), NBT test at our institute was normal. Neutrophil function tests, including neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil phagocytosis, neutrophil respiratory burst, and neutrophil microbial killing test, by flow cytometry, showed normal results. The serum lipid levels, including total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, were normal. Serum lipoprotein electrophoresis was normal. A biopsy specimen revealed scattered foamy cells throughout the dermis. The larger clusters of foamy cells tended to group around the blood vessels of the dermis (Fig. 2). Figure 1. Extensively distributed, yellowish, flat xanthelasma on the face Figure 2. Clusters of foamy cells around the blood vessels of the dermis (hematoxylin and eosin, ×400) [source]


Lichenoid photodermatitis associated with nimesulide

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2001
Umit Tursen MD
An 81-year-old-female patient presented with a 2 week history of erythematous to violaceous lichenoid papules and plaques exhibiting a reticulated pattern on the ,,V'' area of the chest and dorsal hands. Fine, whitish reticulated networks were present over the surface of many well developed papules. The lesions were sharply demarcated and moderately pruritic (Fig. 1). Figure 1. ,Violaceous lichenoid papules with reticular pattern located on the ,,V'' area of the chest The result of routine complete blood cell count, urinalysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver and kidney function tests were within normal limits. Antinuclear and anti-DNA antibodies were negative, and total C3 and C4 complement levels were normal. Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-Hepatitis B core IgM antibody were negative, while anti-Hepatitis C virus antibody was positive. A skin biopsy specimen obtained from the neck of our patient revealed an interface lichenoid dermatitis accompanied by individual necrotic epidermal keratinocytes, parakeratosis and eosinophils in the infiltrate (Fig. 2). Figure 2. ,Interface lichenoid dermatitis accompanied by individual necrotic epidermal keratinocytes and parakeratosis (Hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification, × 200) Nimesulide therapy was stopped and the patient was treated with topical corticosteroids and systemic antihistamines. The eruption resolved within 5 days. The rash returned following nimesulide rechallenge. [source]


Assessing immune function in adult bronchiectasis

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
P. T. King
Summary Bronchiectasis is characterized by chronic airway infection and damage and remains an important health problem. Recent literature has emphasized the role of host defence and immune deficiency in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis, but there have been few studies of immune function in adult bronchiectasis. A comprehensive screen of immune function was conducted in 103 adult patients with bronchiectasis, encompassing full blood examinations, immunoglobulins and IgG isotypes, complement levels, lymphocyte subsets and neutrophil function. Full blood examinations were normal in this cohort, as were complement levels. Statistical analysis confirmed that a significant number of subjects had low levels of IgG3 (13 patients), B cell lymphocytes (six patients) and T helper cell lymphocytes (seven patients) when compared with controls (P < 0·05). The most common abnormality was found with testing of the neutrophil oxidative burst. All subjects had a normal neutrophil phagocytic function but 33 of the subjects had an oxidative burst that was below the normal range (P < 0001). Almost half the group (45 subjects) had abnormally low levels of one of these four parameters. The findings of low B cells, Th cells and oxidative burst in bronchiectasis are novel. The results emphasize the importance of immune function assessment for adult bronchiectasis. [source]