Abstract
Complement is part of the innate immune system and underlies one of the main effector mechanisms of antibody-mediated immunity. Among its physiological activities, complement mediates the disposal of immune complexes and the products of inflammatory injury. Accordingly, low levels of complement suggesting ongoing complement activation and consumption are a well-known phenomenon in patients with cryoglobulinemia. The consumption of complement components in serum is paralleled by the deposition of complement in affected tissues such as the kidney. Experimental data suggest that complement activation is a major factor explaining the inflammatory organ damage seen in cryoglobulinemia in vivo. However, more studies are required to clarify the pathogenic role of complement in cryoglobulinemia.
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Trendelenburg, M. (2012). The Complement System in Cryoglobulinemia. In: Dammacco, F. (eds) HCV Infection and Cryoglobulinemia. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1705-4_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1705-4_10
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