Complement activation associated with active cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients, and its absence in transplant rejection episodes.
In 20 patients with a cadaveric renal allograft, serial measurements were made of the serum complement factors C3, C4, factor B (FB), and C3d, the stable conversion product of C3. Measurements were started immediately before transplantation and continued thereafter once a week to investigate whether these assays help to differentiate between acute allograft rejection (R) and an active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Fifteen patients had one or more R episodes, and 9 patients suffered from an active CMV infection. Six patients had an R episode and subsequently a CMV infection 13-64 days after R. No significant changes were found in the levels of C3, C4, and FB during R or CMV infection. C3d levels remained unchanged or decreased slightly during R. However, there was a 43-500% increase in the C3d level during CMV infection. This difference in the behavior of levels of C3d during R and CMV infection is significant (P less than 0.01), and suggests that serial measurements of C3d may be useful in differentiating CMV infection from R after renal transplantation.
van Son
W J
WJ
van der Woude
F J
FJ
van der Hem
G K
GK
The
T H
TH
Ockhuizen
T
T
Tegzess
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000276:immunology; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000276:immunology; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D011415:Complement Factor B