THE SERUM COMPLEMENT TITER IN NEPHRITIS AND IN OTHER RENAL DISEASES

Abstract

The author studied the changes in serum complement titers in nephritis and in other renal diseases; also the relation of these changes in complement titers to the clinical symptoms. The results are as follows:
1. In the early stages of acute nephritis, the serum complement titers were markedly lowered but soon returned to normal value, but in those cases in which the serum complement titers showed low values for over five weeks, they usually showed a tendency to become chronic. In a fatal case the valuses were always markedly decreased. On the other hand, those cases which returned to normal rapidly, the clinical changes and symptoms also showed rapid and marked improvement.
2. In chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, the serum complement titers were within normal range. However, cases in which the symptoms were actively progressiv, the complement titers were abnormally low. The continuation of markedly abnormally low values usually suggests a grave prognosis.
3. In renal arteriosclerosis, renal tuberculosis, pyelitis, nephrolithiasis, and in toxemia of pregnancy, the serum complement titers were of normal values.
4. The lowering or decrease of complement titers in renal lesions is the result of antigen-antibody reaction and is closely related to clinical changes and symptoms. However, in chronic renal lesions and in toxemia of pregnancy the role of complement-binding antigen-antibody reaction is not as important.