COMPLEMENT ALLOTYPING IN SLE: ASSOCIATION WITH C4A NULL

Abstract

Abstract: Immunogenetic factors are important in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and deficiency of a number of complement components is often associated with a lupuslike illness. The complement components Bf, C2 and C4 are encoded within the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and are polymorphic. A study of HLA and Bf and C4 polymorphism in 43 patients with SLE was undertaken firstly, to determine whether partial deficiency of C2 and C4 may predispose to disease and secondly, because it may allow the better definition of important supratypes associated with the disease and which may include the relevant disease gene(s). An increased frequency of C4A null alleles has been shown i..