CIRCULATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN PATIENTS WITH MYCOPLASMAL PNEUMONIA

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Abstract
Circulating immune complexes as measured by conglutinin (IgG .cntdot. IC) and IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM .cntdot. RF) were studied in 114 patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia (58 inpatients and 56 outpatients). The levels of IgG .cntdot. IC and IgM .cntdot. RF of the patients were significantly higher than those of 13 healthy control subjects. The levels of IgG .cntdot. IC of the inpatients were significantly higher than those of the outpatients. The highest titers of IgG .cntdot. IC were obtained 9-30 days after onset of disease, and the levels of IgG .cntdot. IC were elevated during the time period when pulmonary changes were pronounced. The levels of IgM .cntdot. RF were irrelevant to infiltration on chest radiographs. An analysis using density gradient centrifugation showed that the decrease of IgG .cntdot. IC with intermediate size was associated with improvement of the disease. A possible pathogenic role of IgG .cntdot. IC in mycoplasmal pneumonia is discussed.