Primary pneumococcal peritonitis can be the first presentation of a familial complement factor I deficiency¹.

ABSTRACT: Primary pneumococcal peritonitis is a rare infection that has been described in women but has not been previously linked with immunodeficiency. The complement system plays a central role in immune defence against Streptococcus pneumoniae and, in order to evade complement attack, pneumococci have evolved a large number of mechanisms that limit complement-mediated opsonization and subsequent phagocytosis. We investigated an apparently immunocompetent woman with primary pneumococcal peritonitis and identified a family with deficiency for complement factor I. Primary pneumococcal peritonitis should be considered a possible primary immunodeficiency presentation.

SUBMITTER: Ugrinovic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7670128 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature