Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and pulmonary vasculitis associated with circulating immune complexes

A patient with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and pulmonary vasculitis is described. Circulating immune complexes (CICs) were detected in both light and heavy fractions of the patient's serum by four CIC-tests. Antinuclear antibodies and hypocomplementaemia were also found. Immunosuppressive treatment reversed both the immune haemolysis and the pulmonary reaction. we suggest that the syndrome of our patients represents an unusual localized variety of SLE.