The interrelationship between hypocomplementaemia, partial lipodystrophy and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.

A further case of mesangiocapillary glomth reduced serum C3 levels is reported. The father of the patient was also found to have C3 deficiency. This lends support to the hypothesis that C3 deficiency may be the primary disorder relating these conditions and there is evidence in this case that the deficiency may be genetically determined. It is suggested that the complement state of close relatives, particularly younger siblings, of patients with these disorders should be investigated and, if abnormalities are found, they should be followed-up in order to elucidate the role of hypocomplementaemia in these uncommon disorders.