title: Classical pathway complement activity in Familial Mediterranean fever.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study emphasizes the important role of the immune reactions in the pathogenesis of Familial Mediterranean fever. In the present study, the total hemolytic activity of the complement and the activities of individual complement components, C1, C2, C3, and C4, were determined in the blood serum of 32 patients with FMF and 28 healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemolytic assay was applied, measuring THAC and individual complement components' activities. The patients were divided into 3 groups upon the regularity of colchicine therapy: patients receiving regular, irregular and not receiving colchicine treatment for at least 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes in the hemolytic activities of the C1, C2, C3, and C4 complement components were found between the healthy subjects and those FMF patients, who were receiving regular colchicine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data obtained have raised a number of important questions relevant to FMF pathogenesis and once again confirms the efficiency of regular colchicine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology of Armenian National Academy of Sciences, 7 Hasratyan St., 375014, Yerevan, Armenia.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mkrtchyan
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Boyajyan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ayvazyan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Beglaryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003078:Colchicine