SCREENING FOR COMPLEMENT DEFICIENCY IN BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS

Seventy-seven children with bacterial meningitis were screened for com plement deficiency. Both the classical and the alternate pathways were normal in 75 patients. Transiently reduced total haemolytic activity of the classical pathway was documented in a boy with meningococcal me ningitis. Total haemolytic activity of both the classical and the alte rnate pathways were reduced in another patient with pneumococcal menin gitis: individual complement components determination indicated predom inant activation of the alternate pathway.