COMPARISON of five assays for immune complexes in the RHEUMATIC DISEASES. An Assessment of Their Validity for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Clinical assessment (disease activity, severity, and extraarticular manifestations) of 101 rheumatoid arthritis patients was correlated with several laboratory tests, including 5 immune complex assays: the bovine conglutinin, 125I–C1q binding, monoclonal rheumatoid factor inhibition, Raji cell, and staphylococci binding assays. Elevated disease activity indices were most closely associated with the presence of immune complexes detected by the 125I–C1q and staphylococci binding assays. There were significant but weak correlations between the level of disease activity and the level of immune complexes as measured by the bovine conglutinin, 125I–C1q binding, Raji cell, and staphylococci binding assays. Articular disease severity, as measured by anatomic stage, was best discriminated by the bovine conglutinin, monoclonal rheumatoid factor inhibition, and staphylococci binding assays. Extraarticular manifestations were best discriminated by the Raji cell and staphylococci binding assays. We concluded that the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and overlap of the associations were not sufficient to warrant their wide use for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in individual patients. Conversely, the 125I–C1q and staphylococci binding assays were as good as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the IgG rheumatoid factor test (the 2 best tests of many examined) in assessing disease activity. Further prospective studies with these assays will determine their usefulness in following rheumatoid arthritis for a prolonged period.

Monocyte fc receptor function in rheumatoid arthritis. enhanced cell‐binding of igg induced by rheumatoid factors

“…I' Significantly increased compared with IgMK (P < 0.05). a prolonged exposure to circulating immune complexes (28), which are also present in many RA patients (29).…”

Decrease of the okt8 positive t cell subset in polymyalgia rheumatica

“…In contrast, Espinoza and coworkers (8) found 94% positive cases by the use of the same method as Papaioannou (6) and showed an obvious correlation with the presence of CIC and disease activity. This discrepancy in results of CIC investigations, which has also been noted in other diseases (24,25). casts doubt on the reliability of different techniques.…”

New ELISA Kits using C3 Binding Glycoprotein from Cuscuta europea Detect Mainly IgM CIC in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Progressive Systemic Sclerosis, but not in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…In the same time the dependency between the serum levels of the circulating immune complexes (CIC) and the disease activity is not yet completely elucidated (Ruddy and Moxley, 1994). One of the reasons for this problem may be related to the characteristics of the materials detected (McDougal et al, 1982). It is well known that most of the tests used for quantitative assessment of CIC can detect preferentially IC, containing IgG (IgG-CIC).…”