DETECTION OF CIRCULATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (1) , 141-145
Abstract
The [Burkitt''s lymphoma] Raji cell assay and radiolabeled C1q [q fragment of complement component 1] binding method were used to detect circulating immune complexes in the sera of renal transplant patients. Complexes were found in 7 of 12 patients using the Raji cell assay; only 1 serum sample was positive by the C1q method. In 5 patients the complexes were detected prior to the clinical diagnosis of rejection and in those in whom treatment reversed the rejection the complexes rapidly disappeared. The presence of complexes correlated with a vascular type of rejection characterized by fibrin deposits in the glomeruli in the absence of immunoglobulin or C3 deposits. In 2 patients, in whom anti red cell antibodies were present, irreversible rejection occurred without the presence of detectable complexes in the sera.