COMPLEMENT-SYSTEM RESPONSE TO DECOMPRESSION

A role for the activated complement system in the pathogenesis of deco mpression sickness has recently been suggested. In this study we aimed at evaluating the response of the complement system to decompression in 24 human volunteers. A significant reduction was observed in the le vels of iC3, which is a conformationally changed form of the third com plement component (C3), and C3a after decompression (P<0.001). The lev els of total C3 did not change during the experiment. A relatively mil d decompression has thus led to a distinct change in the complement ac tivation profile in human volunteers.