title: Circulating immune complexes in systemic lupus erythematosus: a reappraisal of the solid phase C1q radioimmunoassay.
abstract: Data from a pool of 150 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were used to evaluate the clinical usefulness and specificity of the solid phase C1q radioimmunoassay (SPC1q RIA) for circulating immune complexes (CIC). We found that the assay results correlated with the severity of lupus nephritis but that they did not adequately reflect or predict disease activity so as to directly influence decisions regarding treatment. In addition, the contribution of non-IC reactants to the assay results was found to be of some concern. Finally, we could not demonstrate the presence of anti-DNA antibodies in CIC from patients with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit Laboratory, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Woodroffe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nozza
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Clarkson
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes; D003172:Complement C1; D015922:Complement C1q; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003172:Complement C1; D015922:Complement C1q; D004247:DNA; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes