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Circulating immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study using five immunoassays.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|August 1, 1986
Summary
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are frequent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and correlate with disease activity and extraarticular features. Changes in CIC levels, particularly Clq binding activity, parallel changes in RA disease activity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation.
- Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like RA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of CIC in RA patients.
- To investigate the relationship between CIC presence and RA disease activity, extraarticular manifestations, and laboratory markers.
- To explore the correlation between changes in CIC levels and disease activity.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 257 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Detected CIC using fluid phase Clq binding activity, conglutinin binding activity, anti-C3 assay, staphylococci protein A binding assay, and cryoprecipitation.
- Assessed clinical indices of disease activity and other laboratory features.
Main Results:
- CIC were frequently detected in the serum of RA patients.
- CIC presence correlated significantly with indices of disease activity, extraarticular features, and rheumatoid factor.
- A change in Clq binding activity showed a parallel correlation with changes in joint count.
Conclusions:
- CIC are common in RA and are associated with disease severity and activity.
- Monitoring CIC levels, especially Clq binding activity, may offer insights into RA disease progression and treatment response.