[Circulating immune complexes in acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and periarteritis nodosa (author's...

Circulating immune complexes were determined in patients with acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and periarteriitis nodosa with the Raji cell technique. Circulating immune complexes were found in 11/18 HBsAg positive and HBsAg negative cases of acute viral hepatitis. In HBsAg positive chronic active hepatitis immune complexes were detectable in 42/43 cases but only in 1/27 HBsAg negative cases. Ten healthy HBsAg carriers demonstrated no detectable immune complexes. Using FITC conjugated antisera against HBs, HBc, and e antigen, immune complexes could not be found in any case of acute viral hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis. Elution of immune complexes from Raji demonstrated IgG, C'3 and a lack of HBsAg, HBc or e antigen. Immune complexes were present in 4/8 cases with periarteriitis nodosa. Viral components were detectable in one case.