INHIBITION OF COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED HEMOLYSIS IN GEL BY RHEUMATOID FACTORS

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Abstract
When subjected to a hemolysis in gel (HIG) assay for the detection of complement deficiency, 9 of 37 sera from patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis produced impaired lysis of sensitized sheep erythrocytes. All sera were normal in a test for the alternative pathway and no major abnormalities were found within the complement system. Using a 2-step HIG technique, with guinea-pig serum as the complement source, all sera were shown to inhibit lysis of sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit IgG. Lysis of IgM-coated erythrocytes was not inhibited. The agglutination titers in a Waaler-Rose test, and the areas of inhibition in the 2-step HIG assay with IgG-sensitized erythrocytes, were correlated (r = 0.80, P < 0.001). Absorption of serum with rabbit Ig coupled to Sepharose 4B, reduced the capacity to inhibit immune hemolysis. The eluate from IgG-Sepharose contained rheumatoid factors and also inhibited hemolysis. Rheumatoid factors in serum were probably responsible for inhibition in the HIG assays used.

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