[Determination of the alternative complement pathway in patients with amebic liver abscess].

The activation of the alternative pathway of complement in the sera of patients with amebic liver abscess was studied. Of 11 sera examined, only six showed an activation of the alternative pathway. However, all sera showed diminished levels of complement (CH50) and C3, in spite of normal levels of C1q. The results suggest that the sera of patients with invasive amebiasis have a substance capable of activating the properdin pathway. The significance of these observations is not completely clear at the present time.