Abstract

PADILLA-DOCAL, Bárbara et al. Intrathecal synthesis of C3c and immunoglobulins in children with bacterial meningoencephalitis. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.3, pp.1-5. ISSN 1025-028X.

Bacterial meningoencephalitis is an important source of morbidity, mortality and disabilities in different regions of the world. The objective of this paper is to know if the complement system can be involved in producing-meningoencephalitis bacterial lysis through C3c release into cerebrospinal fluid. Seven patients with an average age of 3 years-old, who attended the Pediatric Hospital of San Miguel del Padrón, were studied by lumbar puncture diagnosis. Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated from the samples taken. The quantification of C3c, albumin and main immunoglobulins in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid were carried out by radial immunodifusion. Results were analyzed using a Reibergram. All patients showed C3c intrathecal synthesis. This fact demonstrates that the activation of this system has occurred in some of their three pathways and once its biological functions are fulfilled, it suffered a degradation and release process into cerebrospinal fluid as C3c.

Keywords : Complement; C3c; reibergram; cerebrospinal fluid; Neisseria meningitidis; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae.

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