title: Complement studies in severe viral hepatitis of childhood.
abstract: Complement (C) and C components were studied in 18 children with severe viral hepatitis. Results were compared to similar determinations performed in 8 patients with toxic hepatitis related to the ingestion of Amanita Phalloïdes. Hemolytic activities and serum concentrations of C and C components were markedly decreased (less than 2 SD) in both groups of patients. Sequential determinations of C components showed different patterns according to the outcome: either a rapid return to normal in patients who healed or persistence of low levels in patients who died. Such a pattern was similar to that of the prothrombin time. In patients with viral hepatitis a rapid disappearance of C4 and C3 was observed following fresh plasma or fresh blood transfusion. In addition, C4 cleavage was shown in plasma of 8/8 patients. These data suggest that the complement depression observed in fulminant viral hepatitis is related to both consumption and deficient synthesis.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011517:Prothrombin Time
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D011415:Complement Factor B