// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was terminal complement pathway deficiency bad at parties? It couldn't complement the host.
| Terminal complement pathway deficiency | |
|---|---|
 | |
| complement membrane attack complex |
Terminal complement pathway deficiency is a genetic condition affecting the complement membrane attack complex (MAC).
It involves deficiencies of C5, C6, C7, and C8. (While C9 is part of the MAC, and deficiencies have been identified,[1] it is not required for cell lysis.[2])
People with this condition are prone to meningococcal infection.[3] Vaccination may be recommended.[4]
Diagnosis
[edit]Suspect terminal complement pathway deficiency in patients with more than one Neisseria infection episode.
| C4 (C) | FB (A) | C3 | CH50 | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ | PSG, C3 NeF AA |
| ↓ | · | ↓ | · | HAE, C4D |
| · | · | · | ↓ | TCPD |
| ↓ | ·/↓ | ↓ | ↓ | SLE |
| ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | inflammation |
Initial complement tests often include C3 and C4, but not C5 through C9. Instead, the CH50 result may play a role in diagnosis: if the CH50 level is low but C3 and C4 are normal, then analysis of the individual terminal components may be warranted.
Treatment
[edit]Patients with terminal complement pathway deficiency should receive meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccinations. They can receive live vaccines.
References
[edit]- ↑ Lint TF, Zeitz HJ, Gewurz H (November 1980). "Inherited deficiency of the ninth component of complement in man". J. Immunol. 125 (5): 2252–7. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.125.5.2252. PMID 7430628. S2CID 32575206.
- ↑ Thomas M. Habermann; Mayo Clinic (1 November 2007). Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Concise Textbook. CRC Press. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-1-4200-6749-1. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- ↑ J.K. Sinha & S. Bhattacharya. A Text Book of Immunology. Academic Publishers. pp. 385–. ISBN 978-81-89781-09-5. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- ↑ Frederick S. Southwick (10 December 2007). Infectious diseases: a clinical short course. McGraw Hill Professional. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-0-07-147722-2. Retrieved 14 November 2010.