Acute Glomerulonephritis Associated With Normal Serum B1C-Globulin

Abstract

THE association of acute glomerulonephritis with a previous streptococcal infection is well known.^1-6 A reduction of serum hemolytic complement in various forms of nephritis has been adequately documented.^7-15 Measurement of serum β₁C-globulin levels have directly paralleled the serum hemolytic complement activity and, therefore, the serum β₁C-globulin level may be used as an indication of the serum complement activity.¹¹ There exists a preponderance of evidence which indicates that β₁C-globulin levels are low in acute glomerulonephritis, and exceptions to this established fact have been noted only in rare instances.^12,13 This report will present pertinent clinical, pathologic, and immunologic data in a group of children observed, during the winter months from 1962 to 1963 in the greater Washington, DC area,¹⁴ to have acute glomerulonephritis and in which a significant number failed to show a low β₁C-globulin level. Methods and Clinical Material Twenty-five children with the clinical features of acute glomerulonephritis, hospitalized on the