Abstract
Abstract Investigations of the mechanism of anticomplementary activity of 5 strongly anticomplementary sera from patients with monoclonal hypergammaglobulinemia have been carried out. Evidence has been presented showing an increased tendency of some gamma myeloma globulins, both in the whole serum and in the isolated state, to become aggregated by heat. The complement inactivation caused by these proteins occurs in a manner identical to that produced by normal gamma globulin or antigen-antibody complexes. Low levels of a normal serum inhibitor of C′ 1 esterase have been found in these strongly anticomplementary sera. The increased capacity to bind complement resulting from the increased aggregation and a decrease in C′ 1 esterase inhibitor level seem to be the inciting factors responsible for the anticomplementary effect seen in gamma myeloma and benign monoclonal hyperglobulinemia.
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