title: Complement levles in relation to certain antibodies in polytransfused thalassaemic patients.
abstract: Polytransfused patients are exposed to a variety of antigenic stimuli which may eventually trigger autoimmune reactions. The relation of serum complement to the occurrence of various antibodies has been investigated in a group of 75 polytransfused thalassaemic patients. The incidence of the antibodies studied was as follows: anti-HBs 77%, anti-Gm 64%, rheumatoid factor 31%, antinuclear 13%, anti-smooth muscle 47%. Anti-perietal cell, anti-thyroid and anti-kidney were only rarely found and antimitochondrial antibodies were never detected. Total hemolytic complement was low in 6 and incidentally decreased in 21 patients. A positive correlation was found between low serum complement and presence of rheumatoid factor. The high incidence of anti-smooth muscle antibodies seems to be unrelated to liver disease.
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology; D013156:Splenectomy; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor