What does serum sickness result in?

➢ The antigen-antibody complexes precipitate, enter the walls of blood vessels, and activate the complement cascade, initiating an inflammatory response and consuming much of the available C3. ➢ This results in hypocomplementemia, a low C3 level in serum ➢ The result is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis ➢ They can also cause more reactions resulting in typical symptoms of SS. Symptoms ➢ The precise manifestations of SS depend on: – Quantity of ICs – Size of complexes (determine the site of deposition)