title: Preliminary report: complement activation in wasp-sting anaphylaxis.
abstract: The generation of the anaphylatoxin C3a was measured after a wasp-sting challenge in eight patients with previous anaphylactic reactions to wasp stings. Whereas there was no change in C3a in one patient who showed no reaction and only a slight rise in three patients with mild reactions, C3a rose substantially in the four patients with severe anaphylactic reactions. This complement activation is the first in-vitro variable which correlates with the severity of wasp-sting anaphylactic reactions. A role for complement activation in the pathophysiology of wasp-sting anaphylaxis is therefore suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eemland Hospital, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kerckhaert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Struyvenberg
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van der Zwan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000032:analysis; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000032:analysis*; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014863:Wasps
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015922:Complement C1q; D015926:Complement C3a