Resumen

COS PADRON, Yanelkys; MARSAN SUAREZ, Vianed; VILLAESCUSA BLANCO, Rinaldo  y  MACIAS ABRAHAM, Consuelo. Deficiencies of the components of the classic and alternative activation pathways of the complement system. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.1. ISSN 0864-0289.

The congenital deficiencies of the individual components of the classic and alternative pathways of the complement system give rise to a group of diseases of relatively low frequency. The persons with deficiencies in these functions show an elevated susceptibility to recurrent pyogenic infections due to microorganisms that are usually eliminated by phagocytosis and, in some cases, they are connected with autoimmune diseases. When the complement deficiencies involve the formation of the complex of attack to the membrane, associated with the lysis of the bacteria out of the phagocytes, the patients' risks to get infected with Neisseria increase. The clinical and molecular features characterizing the defects present in the components of the classic and alternative activation pathways of the complement system are also described

Palabras clave : Complement system; classic pathway; alternative pathway; immunodeficiency.