Complement deficiency predisposes for meningitis due to nongroupable meningococci and Neisseria-related bacteria

Clin Infect Dis. 1994 May;18(5):780-4. doi: 10.1093/clinids/18.5.780.

Abstract

Nongroupable meningococci or bacteria related to the genus Neisseria rarely cause meningitis. Complement deficiency has been identified as a major predisposing factor for meningococcal disease. To assess whether patients with meningitis due to such strains have a complement deficiency, we studied 12 persons. Six patients had meningitis due to nongroupable strains of meningococci, and six patients had meningitis due to Moraxella species or Acinetobacter species. Inherited complement component C7 or C8 deficiency was found in two persons who had had meningitis due to nongroupable meningococci, and one C8-deficient person had had meningitis caused by Moraxella osloensis. Hypocomplementemia resulting from CSF drain-associated shunt nephritis was found in one person with meningitis due to Moraxella nonliquefaciens and in one person with meningitis due to Acinetobacter lwoffi. This rather high frequency of inherited or acquired complement deficiencies among patients with meningitis due to nongroupable meningococci, Moraxella species, and Acinetobacter species justifies the recommendation that such patients must be studied for complement deficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter Infections / epidemiology
  • Acinetobacter Infections / etiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / microbiology
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Complement System Proteins / deficiency*
  • Disease Susceptibility / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lupus Nephritis / complications
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / etiology
  • Moraxella / isolation & purification*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
  • Neisseriaceae Infections / epidemiology
  • Neisseriaceae Infections / etiology*
  • Neisseriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Netherlands

Substances

  • Complement System Proteins