What are the Clinical Manifestations of Complement Deficiencies?
Children with complement deficiencies may present with a variety of clinical symptoms, including:
- Recurrent Infections: Children with complement deficiencies are prone to recurrent bacterial infections, particularly with encapsulated bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. - Autoimmune Diseases: Complement deficiencies can increase the risk of autoimmune conditions like SLE, where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. - Angioedema: Deficiencies in regulatory proteins such as C1 inhibitor can lead to hereditary angioedema, characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling.
