CIRCULATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

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Abstract
The presence or absence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was studied longitudinally over a period of 15 mo. in 17 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Using the Raji cell assay, CIC were found in 47% of patients. Presence of immune complexes did not correlate with age at midpoint of the study, severity of disease, acute pulmonary exacerbations, progression of lung disease, or nonspecific, humoral and cellular immune functions. In addition, the presence of CIC did not correlate with colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Streptococcus viridans or S. pneumoniae. Because CIC were present in patients without concurrent sputum colonization with P. aeruginosa, antigens other than components of this organism may be capable of forming CIC in CF. The clinical and pathologic significance of CIC in CF remains to be determined.