Prophylaxis against Neisseria meningitidis infections and antibody responses in patients with deficiency of the sixth component of complement.
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| Abstract |
Forty South African patients with homozygous deficiency of the sixth component of complement (C6) have been identified in an area where group B meningococcal meningitis is endemic; 22 of the 24 proband cases presented with recurrent meningococcal meningitis. In a 2- to 4-year prospective study, patients with recurrent infections who received monthly prophylactic long-acting penicillin were significantly protected from subsequent neisserial infection compared with those who did not receive penicillin (P = .02, Fisher's exact test). Heterogeneous susceptibility to neisserial infection was confirmed by following C6-deficient patients who presented with one or no Neisseria meningitidis infections. These patients, on no prophylaxis, had significantly fewer infections (P = .004) than did patients who presented with recurrent disease. Functional C6 activity was restored by transfusion of fresh frozen plasma in a C6-deficient patient resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment. Antibody levels to the serotype 2 outer membrane proteins were significantly elevated in C6-deficient patients compared with control groups (P = .001).
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| Authors | P C Potter, C E Frasch, W J van der Sande, R C Cooper, Y Patel, A Orren |
| Journal | The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 161 Issue 5 Pg. 932-7 (May 1990) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 2109021 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.) |
| Chemical References |
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