Crossed immunoelectrophoresis for the detection of split products of the third complement in dengue hemorrhagic fever. I. Observations in patients' plasma.

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis was applied to detect the products of the third component of complement (C3) activation in plasma of patients suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), using inulin-treated normal human sera as positive control. In DHF, C3 split products were demonstrated in severely ill patients classified as having Grade III and Grade IV disease. These split products rapidly disappeared during the convalescent phase. The appearance of C3 activation products in DHF correlated well with signs of shock. This electropherogram of C3 activation could be used as a parameter reflecting immunologic activity in dengue hemorrhagic fever.