Classical pathway complement activity in Familial Mediterranean fever

Objectives: The present study emphasizes the important role of the immune reactions in the pathogenesis of Familial Mediterranean fever. In the present study, the total hemolytic activity of the complement and the activities of individual complement components, C1, C2, C3, and C4, were determined in the blood serum of 32 patients with FMF and 28 healthy subjects. Design and methods: Hemolytic assay was applied, measuring THAC and individual complement components' activities. The patients were divided into 3 groups upon the regularity of colchicine therapy: patients receiving regular, irregular and not receiving colchicine treatment for at least 1 year. Results: No significant changes in the hemolytic activities of the C 1, C2, C3, and C4 complement components were found between the healthy subjects and those FMF patients, who were receiving regular colchicine treatment. Conclusions: Our data obtained have raised a number of important questions relevant to FMF pathogenesis and once again confirms the efficiency of regular colchicine treatment. (c) 2006 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.