[Recurrent meningitis in a familial defect of the beta-subunit of the 8th complement component].

Bacterial meningitides occurred in two members of a Yugoslavian family. In one case meningitis remained a singular event, Neisseria meningitidis being identified in the CSF. The second patient developed five episodes of recurrent purulent meningitis associated with petechiae and in one instance also with arthritis of the left knee but no causative germ was found. In both patients the Western blot technique revealed a defect of the beta-subunit of the eighth component of complement that was completely eliminated by purified C8. This proved that the C8 defect was isolated and that no other component was deficient.