title: Screening for complement deficiency in bacterial meningitis.
abstract: Seventy-seven children with bacterial meningitis were screened for complement deficiency. Both the classical and the alternate pathways were normal in 75 patients. Transiently reduced total haemolytic activity of the classical pathway was documented in a boy with meningococcal meningitis. Total haemolytic activity of both the classical and the alternate pathways were reduced in another patient with pneumococcal meningitis: individual complement components determination indicated predominant activation of the alternate pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Späth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aebi
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Schaad
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bianchetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000276:immunology; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins