Complete absence of Clr and almost complete absence of Cls were found in 4 of 8 living siblings. Two of the 4 suffer from a syndrome that combines discoid lupus erythematosus and nondeforming rheumatoid-like arthritis; one of the siblings has mild nephritis. The other 2 C1 deficient family members are clinically well. Evidence from this and other families suggests that deficiency of CI components or C4 is associated with higher risk of developing a lupus-like disease than is deficiency of C2. Recent reports have emphasized the occurrence

When scleroderma involves the small intestines, malnutrition with resulting immune incompetence and sepsis can occur. Two cases are presented in which patients with scleroderma involving the gastrointestinal tract were treated with cyclic home hyperalimentation, restoring their nutritional status and improving their quality of life.

No abstract