[Detection and clinical significance of free circulating IgG immune complexes in EPH (edema, proteinuria, hypertension) gestosis].

With enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, using a solid phase Clq method, we determined free circulating immunocomplexes (CIC) in the serum of 47 pregnant women. In 30 normal pregnant women without EPH gestosis no CIC could be found. 3 normal pregnant women showed temporary CIC after viral infections. In 7 women with slight gestosis no traceable CIC concentrations were present. All 7 patients with medium or severe gestosis had clearly positive CIC levels simultaneous with hypertension and during the further course of the pregnancy. Hospitalisation and antihypertensive therapy had to be carried out because of increasing symptoms of gestosis. Thus only in medium and severe gestoses clearly demonstrable CIC concentrations could be measured. The presence of free circulating CIC might be a prognostically unfavourable indication for the further course of an EPH gestosis.