Complement Deficiencies Treatment & Management

  • Author: R Krishna Chaganti, MD; Chief Editor: Michael A Kaliner, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 9, 2009
 

Medical Care

  • Definitive treatment of complement deficiencies requires replacing the missing component of the cascade, either through direct infusion of the protein or through gene therapy. Because neither of these options is currently available, treatment of these patients focuses on managing the sequelae of the particular complement deficiencies.
    • For many patients, treatment must be focused on eradicating a particular infection, especially with encapsulated organisms such as N meningitidis. In most cases of meningococcal disease, treatment with meningeal doses of a third-generation cephalosporin covers most strains of N meningitidis.
    • For other patients, the complement deficiency may manifest as episodic flares of autoimmune diseases; treatment of these patients focuses on immunosuppressive therapy of these diseases.
    • Importantly, note that some overlap often exists between an increased susceptibility to infection and the greater tendency to develop autoimmune disease; both of these clinical situations may need to be addressed simultaneously in any one patient.
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Consultations

  • In a patient with a possible complement deficiency, consider consultation with an allergist and immunologist to determine appropriate diagnostic tests.
  • Also, consider consultation with a rheumatologist or infectious disease specialist to help manage acute complications of the complement deficiency.
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Diet

  • No specific diet restrictions are required.
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Activity

  • Activity can continue as tolerated by the patient.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

R Krishna Chaganti, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Rheumatology, UCSF

R Krishna Chaganti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Stephen Rosenfeld, MD  Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Stephen Rosenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Association of Immunologists, American Federation for Clinical Research, Clinical Immunology Society, and Medical Society of the State of New York

Disclosure: Elan Ownership interest None; Invitrogen Ownership interest None; Merck Ownership interest None; Pfizer Ownership interest None; Medco Health Ownership interest None; Millipore Ownership interest None

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Samuel R Marney, Jr, MD  Director, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Samuel R Marney, Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Physicians, and Tennessee Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Timothy D Rice, MD  Associate Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Timothy D Rice, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael A Kaliner, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine; Chief, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Washington Hospital Center; Medical Director, Institute for Asthma and Allergy

Michael A Kaliner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Thoracic Society, and Association of American Physicians

Disclosure: Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Alcon Consulting fee Consulting; Glaxo Consulting fee Consulting; Greer Consulting fee Consulting; Sanofi Consulting fee Consulting; Schering Consulting fee Consulting; Teva Consulting; Meda Honoraria Speaking and teaching

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