[Familial deficiency of complement factor 7: association with bacterial meningitis. Apropos of 3 recent cases].

Three recent cases of inherited deficiency of the seventh component of complement (C7) associated with recurrent infectious meningitis are described. Two cases were associated with meningococcal meningitis, the third is the first case report of C7 inherited deficiency associated with Haemophilus parainfluenzae meningitis. Family studies are consistent with inheritance and non-HLA-linked, autosomal codominant trait of the C7 deficiency. The three patients have remained well, following antibiotic treatment.