Classic and Alternative Complement Cascades in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

摘要

Hemolytic activity of classic and alternative complement cascades and blood concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-beta, and IL-6 were measured in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. The results attest to hyperactivity of the classic complement cascade associated with elevated content of proinflammatory cytokines and hypoactivation of the alternative complement cascade in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder in comparison with healthy individuals.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex, severe, and chronic mental disease belonging to the group of anxious-depressive disorders, that can develop as a prolonged response to a terrifying or catastrophic stressful event. Traumatic event inducing PTSD leave a indelible trace in patient's psychics and than permanently and insistently recurs in his imagination. The patients with PTSD are characterized by a clinically significant grave emotional state, reduced adaptive capacity of the organism, disturbances in social, professional and other important spheres [3,6]. The incidence of PTSD varies from 1 to 14% depending on population. Examination of high-risk individuals revealed apparent increase in the incidence of PTSD (up to 58%). According to statistical data, 70% of the world population is permanently exposed to factors promoting PTSD development, and 20% of them become ill. Moreover, the number of PTSD patients increases by 3.6% per year and according to some predictions, 8-10% of human population will be affected after 10 years [3,6].