[Methodolgy and interpretation in the study of the complement system in chronic hepatitis].

The determination of the total hemolitic serum complement, as a screening test for investigating the activity of the entire complement system and the measurement of the C3 fraction consumption, has now gained a peculiar importance due to its contribution to the clearing up of some problems regarding the pathogeny an diagnosis of chronic hepatitis. The correlation of these values alterations with the presence of antiglobulinic antigens orientatively suggests the presence of immune complexes taking part in the maintainance of the inflammatory hepatic process.