Studies on immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract
Sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied for immune complexes by means of the anti‐antibody inhibition test; approximately 40% of these specimens were shown to contain immune complexes. To study the nature of antigens participating in the formation of complexes under investigation, the anti‐antibody inhibition test was repeated after addition of various soluble antigens to the complex‐positive rheumatoid arthritis sera. This resulted in conversion of some sera from inhibitory to noninhibitory. It was found that of 15 positive rheumatoid arthritis sera, 7 had complexes formed by heterophile, Hanganutziu‐Deicher antigen and of 12 positive sera tested, 2 had complexes formed by human IgG.
Funding Information
  • American Cancer Society (IM-24B)
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society (RG-892B2)