Revista Cubana de Hematología, Inmunología y Hemoterapia (Apr 2003)
Alteraciones del sistema complemento en pacientes con nefropatía diabética Alterations of the complement system in patients with diabetic nephropathy
Abstract
Se determinó la actividad del sistema complemento en 26 pacientes adultos que se hallaban en la fase terminal de la nefropatía diabética. En estos pacientes se observó una disminución significativa (pThe activity of the complement system was determined in 26 adult patients that were suffering from end-stage diabetic nephropathy. In these patients, it was observed a significant reduction (p<0.001) of the haemolytic activity of the classical pathway, of the serum levels of the subcomponent Clq and of the serum levels of the component C4. However, the haemolytic activity of the alternative pathway, the haemolytic activity of factor B and the serum levels of component C3 were within the normal range. These results suggest that the prolonged decrease of some of the initial components of the classical pathway of the complement may be a factor that predisposes these patients for the autoimmune processes, or that may contribute to the maintenance of the autoimunity state
