title: Circulating immune complexes and disease activity in Crohn's disease.
abstract: Circulating immune complexes were determined in 59 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease and 100 blood donors by a double method based on the inhibition of the agglutinating activity of CIq and/or rheumatoid factor on the IgG-coated polystyrene particles. In patients, the incidence of positive immune complexes was 63% and 61% at first testing, 85% and 78% at subsequent determinations; there was a good correlation between the inhibition titres of CIq and those of rheumatoid factor (p less than 0.001). In blood donors, the incidence was 22% and 14% at low titre. The incidence of immune complexes was the lowest (36%) in the group of resected patients without signs of relapse; repeat determinations showed absence of immune complexes three months postoperatively. In patients medically treated for primary disease or relapse, rheumatoid factor titre higher than 1/1 was less frequent than in medically untreated patients with active disease (p less than 0.01). A significantly higher concentration of serum alpha-1-antitrypsin and orosomucoid, and a significantly lower level of serum iron were found in patients with an IC titre exceeding 1/1; longitudinal studies showed in most cases a concordance between the evolution of immune complex titres, inflammatory parameters and clinical status.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin