Recurrent bacterial meningitis associated with C8 and IgA deficiency.

A patient with recurrent bacterial meningitis who lacked circulating C8, serum IgA, and secretory IgA is reported. The combined absence of C8 and IgA deficiency has not been previously noted. Although the association of disseminated neisserial infection and absence of the terminal complement components is now well established, the deficiency of bactericidal capability as well as mucosal humoral defense may have been additive in predisposing the patient to recurrent meningitis. The pedigree was uninformative regarding possible linkage of these two uncommon genetic errors.