title: [Study of the complement system. General principles and perspectives].
abstract: Measurement of complement in clinical medicine is traditionally based on the determination of CH50 and immunochemical and/or functional measurement of complement proteins C1q, factor B, C3 and C4. The interpretation of these measurements, as far as complement activation is concerned, can however be difficult as these tests do not allow to discriminate between consumption due to activation, hereditary deficiency, increased rate of synthesis or even hyposynthesis. This explains why their use as markers of evolutivity in diseases where complement activation is occurring has given variable results. New tests for complement activation have been more recently introduced. These are mainly the measurements of the anaphytotoxins, the degradation products of C3 and the membrane attack complex. As these tests reflect more directly complement activation, they may be more reliable markers. The immunochemical and functional measurements of C1-inhibitor are of special interest as they are the tests which allow definitive diagnosis of the hereditary angio-oedema. General principles for the interpretation of the different tests used to evaluate the complement system are presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U-78, BP 73, Bois Guillaume.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Julen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dauchel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemercier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daveau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maitrot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ripoche
mesh_terms: D000706:Anaphylatoxins / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000032:analysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D003165:Complement System Proteins
vernacular_title: L'exploration du système du complément. Principes généraux et perspectives.