title: Post-traumatic pleural effusion: demonstration of local complement consumption.
abstract: The present case report describes a 27-year-old patient who presented with post-traumatic pleural effusion. Analysis of the pleural fluid showed hypereosinophilia (990 mm-3), a decreased level of total complement, and decreased levels of C3 and C4 fractions (less than 50% of normal serum levels), indicating a local consumption mechanism for complement. Complement serum levels (CH50, C3, C4) were normal. All other aetiologic possibilities were eliminated. This case suggests that the immunopathological mechanism of post-traumatic pleural effusion may involve activation of the classical pathway of complement and a recruitment of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Blay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aykut-Baturalp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez-Infante
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hauptmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pauli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000276:immunology*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D003165:Complement System Proteins