Circulating Immune Complexes in Disseminated Gonorrheal Infection

  1. LESLEY C. WALKER, M.SC.;
  2. THOMAS D. AHLIN, M.D.;
  3. KENNETH S. K. TUNG, M.B., B.S.; and
  4. RALPH C. WILLIAMS, Jr., M.D.
  1. Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Abstract

    Circulating immune complexes were detected by the Raji-cell radioassay or the C1q solid-phase assay in 13 of 17 patients with disseminated gonococcal infection. In contrast, only three of 20 patients with local gonococcal infection and four of 40 normal persons were positive. The immune complexes were found to be 19S or larger in size, and complement abnormalities suggestive of complement activation showed some correlation with the levels of immune complexes in disseminated gonorrheal infection. These results indicate that in addition to bacterial dissemination, circulating immune complexes may be involved in the pathogenesis of disseminated gonococcal syndrome.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Bernalillo County Medical Center; Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    • Grant support: in part by the World Health Organization; Grants AMAI 13824-07, AM 13690-08, and 1 PO1 AI 13433-01 from the National Institutes of Health; and the Kroc Foundation.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Ralph C. Williams, Jr., M.D.; University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Bernalillo County Medical Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd., N.E., 7th Floor South; Albuquerque, NM 87131.

      • Received August 26, 1977.
      • Accepted March 22, 1978.
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    1. Ann Intern Med July 1, 1978 vol. 89 no. 1 28-33
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