01283nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002900055653002600084653001800110653001100128653002000139653002600159653001200185100001700197700001700214700001500231700001400246700001900260245008200279300000800361490000600369520062800375022001401003       1983                            d  c1983 Jun10aAntigen-Antibody Complex10aComplement Activation10aComplement C310aHumans10aImmunodiffusion10aImmunoelectrophoresis10aleprosy1 aKliemann T A1 aMartinez E L1 aIrulegui I1 aSouza Z W1 aCavalcanti Z M00aConversion of the C3 component of complement in sera of hanseniasis patients.  a5-80 v83 a<p>The levels of total C3 (native C3 plus its degradation products) and the degree of conversion of native C3 into its breakdown products were studied in sera of Virchowian (V), tuberculoid (T), indeterminate (I), and Virchowian with erythema nodosum Hansenicum (ENH) patients. Sera from normal individuals (N) were also analysed. While the levels of total C3 were not significantly different among the groups, the percentage of conversion of C3 into its degradation products was significantly higher in V and ENH sera. The activation of the complement system and the involvement of immune complexes (IC) are discussed.</p>  a0100-3283