3RD COMPLEMENT COMPONENT IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID IN NEURO-BEHCETS SYNDROME - CONVERSION PATTERNS BY CROSSED IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS

CSF specimens (13) from 10 patients with neuro-Behcet''s syndrome (nB) were examined for the presence of conversion products of C3 [complement component] protein by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis. C3 conversion products were found in 4 CSF from nB patients, and the proportions of the split products to the total immunoprecipitate zones were 17, 34, 61 and 63%, respectively. CSF with C3 conversion patterns showed higher C3 protein (.beta.1C/1A) levels compared with those with non-conversion, whereas the differences of C4 protein (.beta.1E) levels were unremarkable. CSF with C3 conversion patterns showed apparent inflammatory characteristics indicating blood-CSF barrier involvement which would be deduced from increased .alpha.2-macroglobulin and Ig[immunoglobulin]A, regarded as sensitive internal barrier parameters, but IgA measurement was much higher than usually expected values. The increase in CSF C3 might be initiated by accelerated consumption of C through the alternative pathway, leading to hypersynthetic or hyper-influx response in CSF.