[Detection of immune complexes in idiopathic thrombopenia]

In 206 sera from the patients with different haematological disorders including 45 sera from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia, immune complexes were searched for, using the method of inhibition of latex-IgG agglutination by rheumatoid factor (RF) and C1q complement component. In the group of patients in 27 cases (13%) presence of endogenous RF was found. The sera of 149 patients (72.5%) inhibited RF and C1q. With the exception of sera from patients with thrombocytopenia, all the remaining ones either inhibited RF and C1q or contained endogenous RF. In the sera of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia the inhibitory factors were found in 46.5% and endogenous RF in 22.5%. In 12 patients in this group selected on clinical grounds the levels of immune complexes were investigated before and during 2 weeks after splenectomy. Apart from some changes immediately after this operation no significant differences were observed in the levels of immune complexes during this brief follow-up.