Multiple immune complexes and hypocomplementaemia in dermatitis herpetiformis and coeliac disease
Mohammed, I.; Holborow, E.J.; Fry, L.; Thompson, B.R.; Hoffbrand, A.V.; Stewart, J.S.
Lancet 1(7984): 487-490
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 74460 Document Number: 106766
Circulating immune complexes were detected in 100% of 59 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), and in 100% of 27 patients with celiac disease (CD). Three methods for detecting immune complexes were employed: radiobioassay, which gave an incidence of 77% in DH and 81% in CD; C1q [q fragment of the 1st complement component] binding activity, with which the incidence was 83% and 96%, respectively; and precipitation with 4% polyethylene glycol (69% positivity in DH, 100% in CD). The immune complexes in DH and CD were compared with those in sera from 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Multiple complexes of differing properties were found in DH and CD, but not in SLE. The varying nature of the complexes in DH and CD may account for the damage to different tissues (skin, small intestine, RES). Low C3 was found in 49% and low C4 in 20% of DH patients. C3 hypocomplementemia was found in 26% of patients with CD.