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Evaluation of complement activation in premature newborn infants with hyaline membrane disease

  • Immunology/Allergology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Fifteen premature newborns with hyaline membrane disease causing acute respiratory distress were evaluated for complement activation. A high intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt and marked arterial-alveolar oxygen difference indicated the severity of the respiratory failure. Twenty preterm healthy infants served as controls. Total haemolytic activity, plasma concentrations of complement components and regulatory proteins (C3, C4, C1-inhibitor, factors H and I) as well as activation products (C3a, C3dg, C1rsC1-inhibitor, C3b(Bb)P) gave no evidence of significant complement activation. Functional activity of the ubiquitous regulatory protein C1-inhibitor was significantly reduced without impact on classical pathway activation. These data suggest that, in contrast to the adult form of respiratory distress syndrome, the low-pressure pulmonary oedema characterising hyaline membrane disease is not mediated by activation of the complement system.

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Abbreviations

ARDS:

adult respiratory distress syndrome

C1-inh:

C1-inhibitor

CH50:

haemolytic activity

HMD:

hyaline membrane disease

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    R. Cat & N. A. Rosario

  2. Department of Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    I. Taborda de Messias & T. D. Resener

  3. Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, W-6900, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Kirschfink

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  1. R. Cat
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  2. N. A. Rosario
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  3. I. Taborda de Messias
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  4. T. D. Resener
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  5. M. Kirschfink
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Cat, R., Rosario, N.A., Taborda de Messias, I. et al. Evaluation of complement activation in premature newborn infants with hyaline membrane disease. Eur J Pediatr 152, 205–208 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956145

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956145

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