Reconstitution of the alternative pathway of complement by plasma infusions given to a patient with an SLE-like syndrome associated with a hereditary C3 dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE To reconstitute a dysfunctional form of complement factor C3 in a patient with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome. METHODS The propositus was treated with plasma infusions during five sessions over a period of eight months. RESULTS The alternative pathway was reconstituted to normal levels for approximately two to three days after each infusion. C3 fragments were incorporated into previously detected deposits of IgG and IgM at the dermal-epidermal junction and the immune complex levels gradually decreased during the whole treatment period. CONCLUSION The reconstitution appears to result in the solubilisation of tissue immune complexes and a subsequent transportation to the fixed macrophage system.