[Free and bound antigen of Streptococcus group A L forms and the circulating immune complex level of erysipelas patients].

The level of circulating immune complexes in the blood serum of patients with relapsing erysipelas was found to be correlated with the level of the antigen of group A S. haemolyticus L-forms, this antigen entering in to the composition of the immune complexes. In 68% of cases the antigen of the streptococcal L-forms was bound and only in 20% of cases, free. High titers of antibodies to group A S. haemolyticus L-forms in patients with relapsing erysipelas at the absence of free antigen indirectly suggests that the antigen is incorporated into antigen-antibody complexes.