Abstract
It is already well established that the joint disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is developed by immune mechanisms. However, there are few reports concerning serum immune complex (IC) levels in patients with RA. Therefore, we tried to examine serum IC levels in 47 patients with RA of various stages in order to clarify the significance of measuring serum IC levels in patients with RA. Serum IC levels were determined by Raji cell immunofluorescence assay which we had developed recently. In some patients, IC levels in synovial fluids were also measured. In 55% in patients with RA serum IC levels were positive and their levels were strongly correlated with the existence of extraarticular symptoms, especially with systemic angitis. On the other hand, the activity of joint disease had more close correlation with the IC levels in synovial fluids than those in serum. In conclusion, serial determination of serum IC levels can contribute to determine the indication of steroid treatment in patients with RA and to control the dosis and duration of steroid treatment of these patients.
