Abstract

MERLIN LINARES, Julio C et al. Alterations of the solubilization and inhibition of the precipitation of immunocomplexes in sickle cell anemia. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.1. ISSN 0864-0289.

The phenomena of solubilization and inhibition of the precipitation of immunocomplexes were studied in a group of 39 patients with sickle cell anemia in hepatic crisis (13) and in basal state (26), using as a model the tetanus toxoid/anti-tetanus toxoid complex125 I. The inhibition of the precipitation was reduced in the hepatic crisis and in the basal state with normal values of the haemolytic activity of the classical pathway and of the serum levels of C4, whereas the reduction of the solubilization in the hepatic crisis was related to a lowering of the haemolytic activity of the alternative pathway, the haemolytic activity of factor B and the levels of component C3, and to an increase of the circulating immunocomplexes. Our results suggest the possible usefulness of these mechanisms to evaluate other functions of the complement not detected by a determination of the haemolytic activity, as a measure of the function of..the classical and alternative pathways

Keywords : ANEMIA, SICKLE CELL [immunology]; COMPLEMENT; COMPLEMENT PATHWAY, ALTERNATIVE; COMPLEMENT PATHWAY, CLASSICAL; ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEX.