Hypocomplementaemia fails to prevent acute-phase stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis.

Fibrinogen synthesis rates of normocomplementaemic and hypocomplementaemic rats were measured after turpentine injection using the 14C-carbonate technique and a liver perfusion system. In both groups of animals turpentine administration caused a significant increase (P less than 0,01) in fibrinogen synthesis rates, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups. These results suggest that complement does not play an important role in the genesis of the fibrinogen acute-phase reaction.