01658nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653003400065653001900099653001800118653001800136653002400154653003600178653002200214653002100236653001100257653001100268653001200279653000900291653001600300653002500316100001100341700001300352700002000365700001500385245013200400300001000532490000700542520074500549022001401294       1983                            d  c1983 Jan10aAdult10aComplement Activating Enzymes10aComplement C1q10aComplement C310aComplement C410aComplement Factor B10aComplement Pathway, Alternative10aEnzyme Precursors10aErythema Nodosum10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae1 aSaha K1 aSharma V1 aChakrabarty A K1 aSehgal V N00aBreakdown product of factor B as an index of complement activation in lepromatous leprosy and its relation with bacillary load.  a37-430 v173 a<p>Serum complement profile studied in 50 lepromatous leprosy patients with various bacillary loads demonstrated significantly decreased C3 levels in patients with high bacteriological index (2+ to 4+) as compared with those with lesser bacterial load. In contrast, mean serum levels of C1q and C4 components remained unchanged. The concentration of factor B breakdown product (Ba) and its ratio to factor B increased with the bacterial density and more so in patients with erythema nodosum leprosum. A significant negative correlation was found between serum C3 and Ba levels in most lepromatous patients. Analysis of the data suggested the alternative pathway as the possible mechanism of complement activation in lepromatous leprosy.</p>  a0300-9475