Combined C3b and Factor B Autoantibodies and MPGN Type II
December 2011
in “
New England Journal of Medicine
”
TLDR The FDA did not approve certain drugs for prostate cancer prevention due to concerns about their effectiveness and potential risks.
The document reported on two unrelated patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (MPGN II), a rare glomerular disease. Both patients had autoantibodies to C3b and factor B, which enhanced C3 convertase activity, leading to complement deregulation. Patient 1, an 8-year-old girl, received immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchanges, resulting in decreased autoantibody levels and stable condition post-kidney transplantation with no disease recurrence after 18 months. This study highlighted the presence of additional autoantibodies in MPGN II beyond C3 nephritic factor, necessitating targeted treatment.
