[Use of solid-phase Clq-ELISA for detecting circulating immune complexes in human diseases]

The authors provide the results of studying the methodologic characteristics and of the clinical trial of the C1q-ELISA for detection of the circulating immune complexes. The C1q-ELISA is shown to have a high sensitivity and to make it possible to identify 3 micrograms/ml and more of aggregated gamma-globulin. The method can use for detection of CIC E (ab')2-fragments of antibodies to IgG of man and protein A labeled with peroxidase. Using the method, the circulating immune complexes were identified in the sera of 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, of 30% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and of 53% of patients with nonspecific aortoarteritis. It is concluded that the C1q-ELISA can be used in clinical practice for detecting the circulating immune complexes in different diseases of man.