Complement Deficiencies

Overview :

Complement plays several functions in immunity. It can poke holes in bacteria, kill bacteria that are first targeted by antibodies, or, working with antibodies, point out which bacteria need to be engulfed by white blood cells. Without sufficient complement, the body is prone to frequent infections, like pneumonia or meningitis, or other illnesses, including autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus. Since there are more than 20 different types of complement, the disease that results depends on the specific complement that is lacking.