Circulating immune complexes in a patient with prolonged gonococcal septicemia.

A case of prolonged gonococcal speticemia is presented. Lack of genital symptoms, of demonstrable gonococcal antibodies in whole serum, and initially also of skin lesions contributed to a delayed diagnosis that was finally confirmed by positive blood culture. Evidence of circulating immune complexes was obtained by the demonstration of gonococcal IgG antibodies after dissociation of serum by gradient centrifugation of pH 4.0. The possibility that circulating immune complexes may contribute to the symptomatology of gonococcal septicemia is pointed out.