title: Activation of the alternative complement pathway: clinical application of a new technique to measure fragment Ba.
abstract: A new laser nephelometric technique for the measurement of the alternative complement pathway fragment Ba has been developed. Activation of the alternative complement pathway was assessed in 16 patients with Gram negative bacteraemia, six with Gram positive bacteraemia, 20 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 18 healthy subjects. Patients with Gram negative bacteraemia had significantly higher values of Ba (median 14.8%) than controls (9.3%) (p less than 0.01), while patients with Gram positive bacteraemia and rheumatoid arthritis had values similar to those of controls (10.1% and 9.5%). The technique proved sensitive and precise, and is suitable for the routine laboratory evaluation of complement activation through the alternative pathway.
authors: Department of Immunology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Senaldi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Peakman
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alhaq
authors: V A
authors: VA
authors: Makinde
authors: D E
authors: DE
authors: Tee
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Vergani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003167:Complement Activation; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000032:analysis*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D011415:Complement Factor B