[Alterations of the complement system in patients with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome].

Aim: To investigate alterations of the complement system in patients with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS).

Subjects And Methods: Four patients (2 men aged 23 and 40 years and 2 women aged 39 and 58 years) diagnosed as having CAPS, including 3 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and 1 patient with primary APS, were examined. The activity of the complement components C1-C5 and total hemolytic activity were determined in all the patients at the moment of an acute episode and in 1 patient after treatment.