Complement levels in normal and inflamed aqueous humor.

C2, C6, and C7 were measured by hemolytic assay and Factor B and IgG were measured by radial immunodiffusion in samples of normal and inflamed aqueous humor. Normal aqueous humor was found to contain functional C2, C6, and C7, but the small ratios of aqueous humor to serum measurements suggested that there was relatively little of these complement components in normal aqueous humor when compared to serum. The mean values of C2, C6, C7, and Factor B in aqueous humor and the median ratios of aqueous humor to serum measurements for each complement component were higher in patients with inflamed aqueous humor than in patients with normal aqueous humor. A comparison of the ratios of IgG to each complement component in normal and inflamed aqueous humor suggested that levels of IgG and complement increased proportionately in inflamed aqueous humor. Factor B, a component of the alternative pathway, was not detected in normal aqueous humor but measured in five of six samples of aqueous humor from eyes with anterior chamber inflammation.