C3 NEPHRITIC FACTOR AND SLE - REPORT OF 4 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We present four patients with C3 nephritic factor associated with part ial lipodystrophy and/or mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type II. Each of these patients subsequently developed features of SLE, with a n onset between 2 and 24 years after the development of the lipodystro phy or glomerulonephritis. All four patients had antinuclear antibodie s and three of the four had anti-Ro antibodies. These patients bring t o six the number of reported cases of this association. Possible expla nations for the link between these two conditions are discussed.