Biomaterial Database

Clinical significance of circulating immune complex assay in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 1989

N C Phi, and D K Chien, and D V Chinh, and G Péter

Second Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.

Circulating immune complexes (IC) were assayed in 65 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 40 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 35 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) and 30 healthy controls. Immunoglobulin components of PEG-precipitated IC from 10 patients with SLE were also determined. Cryoglobulins isolated from 11 patients with SLE were assayed for their IC-like activity. The effect of corticosteroid treatment on IC levels were also studied in SLE patients with nephritis. IC levels significantly increased in all groups but those of SLE patients were the highest values. The SLE patients with nephritis had higher levels than those without renal involvement. IgG- d IgM- but no IgA-components were found in 100% and, 90%, respectively, of IC preparations. IC-like activity of cryoglobulins were found to correlate with disease severity and appeared to be characteristic of clinical manifestations. Corticosteroid therapy significantly decreased IC levels, however, related to the entire patient group, the mean of IC level was still higher than that of healthy controls. The degree of IC level decrease (as percentage), but not absolute values, appeared to be significant in assessing disease activity. The clinical significance of IC determination and IC activity of cryoglobulins are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D008180	Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic	A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.	Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D008297	Male		Males
D003450	Cryoglobulins	Abnormal immunoglobulins, especially IGG or IGM, that precipitate spontaneously when SERUM is cooled below 37 degrees Celsius. It is characteristic of CRYOGLOBULINEMIA.	Cryoglobulin,Cryoprotein,Cryoproteins
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000305	Adrenal Cortex Hormones	HORMONES produced by the ADRENAL CORTEX, including both steroid and peptide hormones. The major hormones produced are HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE.	Adrenal Cortex Hormone,Corticoid,Corticoids,Corticosteroid,Corticosteroids,Cortex Hormone, Adrenal,Hormone, Adrenal Cortex,Hormones, Adrenal Cortex
D000936	Antigen-Antibody Complex	The complex formed by the binding of antigen and antibody molecules. The deposition of large antigen-antibody complexes leading to tissue damage causes IMMUNE COMPLEX DISEASES.	Immune Complex,Antigen-Antibody Complexes,Immune Complexes,Antigen Antibody Complex,Antigen Antibody Complexes,Complex, Antigen-Antibody,Complex, Immune,Complexes, Antigen-Antibody,Complexes, Immune
D001327	Autoimmune Diseases	Disorders that are characterized by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides.	Autoimmune Disease,Disease, Autoimmune,Diseases, Autoimmune