Circulating immune complexes and complement in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized immunologically by the detection of rheumatoid factor (RF) and circulating immune complexes (CIC). The pathogenesis role played by these CIC has been discussed a long time. A part of this theoretical question, it could be of interest to know if these technics could help the clinician in the diagnosis or in the follow up of the patients with RA.