Novel C3 nephritic factor activity in the glomerulonephritis of staphylococcal endocarditis.
A case of glomerulonephritis complicating staphylococcal endocarditis is presented. Hypocomplementaemia and a C3-activating factor in the serum suggested that the patient might have mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis in association with C3-nephritic factor. Renal biopsy showed that this was not so and further examination of the serum factor showed that it differed from classical C3-nephritic factor because it was not an immunoglobulin. It is postulated that complement activation and glomerulonephritis in staphylococcal endocarditis may be the direct result of a bacterial product. A substance in the serum which activates C3 should be confirmed to be an immunoglobulin before the presence of classical C3-nephritic factor is assumed.
Craddock
C F
CF
City Hospital, Nottingham.
Richards
N P
NP
Powell
R J
RJ
Morgan
A G
AG
D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D003178:Complement C3 Nephritic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
D003176:Complement C3; D003178:Complement C3 Nephritic Factor