[Detection of circulating immune complexes by polyethyleneglycol precipitations complement consumption test in...

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected and quantitated in 49 patients with urological malignant diseases (9 cases of renal cell cancer, 3 cases of renal pelvic and ureter cancer, 21 cases of bladder cancer and 16 cases of prostatic cancer), 9 patients with urological benign diseases and in normal subjects by the polyethylene-glycol precipitation complement consumption test (PEG-CC test). The average CIC level was 2.7 +/- 3.0% in 18 normal subjects and the normal range was less than 10% of the CIC level. CIC level of patients with renal cell cancer was 14.3 +/- 20.1%, being elevated in 3 of the 9 patients, that of patients with renal pelvic and ureter cancer was 4.7 +/- 4.6%, being within the normal range in 3 cases, that of patients with bladder cancer was 4.7 +/- 4.4%, being elevated in 1 of 21 patients, and that of patients with prostatic cancer was 8.9 +/- 15.4%, being elevated in 3 of 16 patients. In urological malignant diseases such as renal cell cancer and prostatic cancer the CIC values were relatively high.