[The complement system in familial Mediterranean fever: studies in 41 families (author's transl)].

A total increase of blood complement components, particularly C4, is found in subjects with familial Mediterranean fever both before and after colchicine therapy. This effect differs from the serum haptoglobin and orosomucoïd concentration decreases detected after identical therapy, confering diagnostic value to this inflammatory syndrome. This could be of both hepatic and extrahepatic origin. For the latter, it is possible that up take of circulating monocytes, macrophage precursors, by the connective tissue of the serum sub-mesothelial layer is responsible for the lesion.