title: Complementing the patient: a complement component deficiency in a patient with recurrent infections and glomerulonephritis.
abstract: We present a case showing the investigation of a 7-year-old girl with empyema and glomerulonephritis whose "immunological" defect was a single complement component (C2) deficiency which prevented her from activating her classical complement pathway. A defect in complement function should be suspected in any patient with severe or recurring pyogenic infections. Investigations of "? immune deficiency" should always include tests to assess the patency of the patient's complement system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. david.sinclair@porthosp.nhs.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bex
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003175:Complement C2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency*; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003175:Complement C2