A method for estimation of circulating immune complexes after oral challenge with ovalbumin

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Abstract
Summary: Sera from forty‐two children orally challenged with ovalbumin were analysed for the presence of IgG‐ovalbumin immune complexes. The technique used is based on the adsorption of the IgG of the complex to immobilized protein‐A and detection of the ovalbumin of the complex on the solid phase, using isotope‐labelled, pepsin‐digested antibodies to ovalbumin. Children with high serum levels of antibody to ovalbumin had significantly higher concentrations of IgG‐ovalbumin complexes than children with low antibody levels. In both groups the appearance of the complexes in the serum was accompanied by a significant decrease of the complement factor C3 (P < 0.05). The duration of the decrease in C3 was correlated to the amount of IgG‐ovalbumin complexes, suggesting a consumption of C3 by these immune complexes.