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Pathology - C5 Deficiency
Disorder of the complement system specifically C5 deficiency, leading to bacterial meningitis from Neisseria meningitidis . Complement deficits can result in disruption of the traditional route (C1q, C1r, C1s, C2, and C4), which result in respiratory tract or tissue-invasive bacterial infections, usually by Streptococcus pneumoniae , and can culminate in septicemia. Defects in the alternative pathway (C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9) result in susceptibility to N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis infections. In this example, the patient’s lethargy, fever, vomiting, headache, and positive Brudzinski’s sign (reflexive hip flexion with passive neck flexion) hint toward meningitis.
A petechial eruption is symptomatic of N. meningitidis infection and gram-negative diplococci in the CSF corroborate the diagnosis. Functional assays can examine the status of classic and alternative complement pathways, and determination of relative components status can provide a diagnosis. Rarely, a life-threatening and often deadly complication known as Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome can emerge due to bleeding within the adrenal glands attributable to N. meningitidis infection.
Disorder of the complement system specifically C5 deficiency, leading to bacterial meningitis from Neisseria meningitidis . Complement deficits can result in disruption of the traditional route (C1q, C1r, C1s, C2, and C4), which result in respiratory tract or tissue-invasive bacterial infections, usually by Streptococcus pneumoniae , and can culminate in septicemia. Defects in the alternative pathway (C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9) result in susceptibility to N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis infections. In this example, the patient’s lethargy, fever, vomiting, headache, and positive Brudzinski’s sign (reflexive hip flexion with passive neck flexion) hint toward meningitis.
A petechial eruption is symptomatic of N. meningitidis infection and gram-negative diplococci in the CSF corroborate the diagnosis. Functional assays can examine the status of classic and alternative complement pathways, and determination of relative components status can provide a diagnosis. Rarely, a life-threatening and often deadly complication known as Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome can emerge due to bleeding within the adrenal glands attributable to N. meningitidis infection.
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