title: Effect of cyclosporine A on circulating immune complexes in IgA nephropathy.
abstract: This work was undertaken to examine the effect of cyclosporine A (CyA) on the serum concentration of circulating immune complexes in 22 patients with IgA nephropathy during an infection-free period. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: 11 patients received oral cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks and 11 patients received placebo (0.05 ml/kg/day). A significant reduction of proteinuria was observed in patients on CyA therapy but not in those receiving placebo. IgG-circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined by solid phase Clq enzyme immunoassay (Clq EIA) and radial immunodiffusion (RID) and IgA-CIC were determined by solid phase anti-C3 enzyme immunoassay (anti-C3 EIA) and radial immunodiffusion. There was no change in IgA-CIC measured by RID and anti-C3 EIA after 12 weeks of CyA therapy. Similarly, changes in IgG-CIC were not demonstrated with CyA therapy. No apparent decrease in IgG-CIC or IgA-CIC was observed with placebo treatment. Our study suggests that immunomodulation by CyA therapy does not affect the IgA-CIC and IgG-CIC levels in patients with IgA nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003524:Cyclosporins