title: Correlation of disease activity in systemic necrotizing vasculitis with immune complexes.
abstract: Ninety-four sera from 23 patients with necrotizing vasculitis of the polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) type were examined for immune complexes by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. The presence of immune complexes in serum specimens was positively correlated with the presence of active disease in PAN (p less than .001). These complexes predicted active disease 93% of the time and their absence predicted a period of inactivity 54% of the time. The presence of hepatitis B markers, Clq immune complexes, rheumatoid factor, or low complement levels did not correlate with active disease. In 9 patients in whom serial specimens were tested for immune complexes there was a positive association of immune complexes and active PAN.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003172:Complement C1 / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003172:Complement C1; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013256:Steroids; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D001379:Azathioprine