The Association of Respiratory Infection, Recurrent Hematuria, and Focal Glomerulonephritis with Activation of the Complement System in the Cold

Noorbibi K. Day; H. Geiger; R. McLean; J. Resnick; A. Michael; R. A. Good

doi:10.1172/JCI107351

^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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^{Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

^{Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455}

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Published in Volume 52, Issue 7 on July 1, 1973
J Clin Invest. 1973;52(7):1698–1706. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI107351.
© 1973 The American Society for Clinical Investigation

Published July 1, 1973 - Version history

The study of the activation of C3, C5, and C7 associated with the conversion of C3 in the serum of a 9-yr old girl after incubation at 0°C for 6-8 h without utilization of C1, C4, and C2 is described. The patient has upper respiratory infections associated with recurrent gross hematuria, focal glomerulonephritis, and transient renal insufficiency. Histological lesions demonstrated the presence of B1c globulin IgA and properdin in the glomeruli. The activation of complement (C) in the cold requires the patient's IgA. Removal of IgA from the serum by immunoadsorption prevents activation and conversion of C3. Bactericidal and phagocytic activity is also impaired after incubation. C3 proactivator (C3PA) level is reduced before and after incubation. Properdin level drops after incubation. These findings suggest that the activation of C3 which is demonstrable in vitro may be a continuous process in vivo.

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