Immunoglobulin classes and complement in biopsies of Nigerian children with the nephrotic syndrome.

  • 1 May 1971
    • journal article
    • Vol. 8  (5) , 761-74
Abstract
Pretreatment diagnostic renal biopsies from fifty Nigerian children with the nephrotic syndrome were investigated by immunofluorescence for immunoglobulin classes, complement and specific antigens. Nineteen of these were re-examined after an interval of 10–15 months. Forty-eight first biopsies were positive for bound γ-globulins, usually IgM and IgG but sometimes for one of these alone; IgA was not detected. Thirty-three were positive for bound complement (C3 component). IgM was associated with granular deposits and complement, IgG with both granular and continuous deposits, the latter usually lacking complement. Plasmodium malariae antigen was found in nine of thirty-six cases examined; no P. falciparum or streptolysin-O antigens were observed. Immunoglobulins G and M were found in tubules in seventeen of the fifty patients, in five together with complement. P. malariae antigen was observed in tubules in eleven of thirty-six cases.