CIRCULATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN RETINAL VASCULITIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (1) , 23-29
Abstract
Seventeen patients with retinal vasculitis, 11 with the peripheral type (Eales'' disease) and 6 with the central type, were investigated to detect the presence of circulating immune complexes (IC) which might then be related to the pathogenesis of their disease. A systemic disease process was identified in 6. IC in serum were inferred by the presence of complement (C) activation, rheumatoid factor, C1q [q fragment of C component 1] or monoclonal rheumatoid factor precipitins, anticomplementary activity, elevated cryoglobulins, inhibition of erythrocyte-antibody (Ig[immunoglobulin]G EA) rosette formation, increased numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing surface Ig and spontaneous neutrophil chemotactic activity in plasma. Two or more parameters were positive in 13 of 17 patients, with chemotactic activity (69%) and inhibition of EA-rosette formation (59%) being the most frequently positive tests. No immunological differences were detected between the peripheral and central retinalvasculitic groups. Several IC systems may operate in a given patient.