title: Acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency: postmortem diagnosis.
abstract: Acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency is a clinical syndrome closely resembling hereditary angioedema in which most patients have an associated malignancy of B cell lineage. Sera from 33 patients with B cell neoplasms were assayed for C1 esterase inhibitor level by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The clinical summary of a patient who met the biochemical criteria for acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency (low C1 esterase inhibitor, low C4) is presented. We hypothesize that this syndrome represents an autoimmune reaction involving tumor cell rejections and of potential benefit to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Diego.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Fivenson
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Dillman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gigli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D003181:Complement C4