Absence of functional alternative complement pathway alleviates lupus cerebritis

Complement: Alternative Pathway

The alternative pathway, the phylogenetically oldest and most important activation pathway of the complement system, provides a highly efficient defence mechanism against invadingmicroorganisms and bacteria. Formation of C3b occurs spontaneously and continuously, while the further activation of this central component is tightly controlled by a large number of both soluble and membrane-bound reg...

The alternative complement pathway revisited

Alternative pathway amplification plays a major role for the final effect of initial specific activation of the classical and lectin complement pathways, but the quantitative role of the amplification is insufficiently investigated. In experimental models of human diseases in which a direct activation of alternative pathway has been assumed, this interpretation needs revision placing a greater ...

Inherited Classical and Alternative Pathway Complement Deficiencies in Children: A Single Center Experience

Lupus cerebritis after visiting a tanning salon.

A 53-year-old female was admitted to the intensive care unit for lupus cerebritis; she had a 15-year history of stable lupus. Over the prior 1 to 2 months, the patient visited a tanning salon and this triggered the exacerbation of lupus. Her initial symptoms were cutaneous in the form of an erythematous rash. Within 2 weeks she started to have headaches and was admitted for seizure and psychosi...

Case report: lupus nephritis with autoantibodies to complement alternative pathway proteins and C3 gene mutation

BACKGROUND Glomerulonephritis is one of the most severe complications of lupus, a systemic disease with multi-organ involvement, with tissue damage produced mainly by complement activation. As a result of this activation, patients with active lupus present hypocomplementemia during disease flares, but C3 and C4 levels are recovered between episodes. CASE PRESENTATION We present a patient who ...