A search for antigen-antibody complexes in pre-eclampsia: further evidence against immunologic pathogenesis.

Circulating immune (antigen-antibody) complexes have been proposed as possible important in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Thirty-four serum samples from pre-eclamptic women were examined for the presence of antigen-antibody complexes by the C1q binding and Raji cell assays. Slightly abnormal C1q binding occurred in two serum samples, while all Raji cell determinations were found to be in the normal range for a healthy, nonpregnant population. It is concluded that circulating immune complexes do not occur regularly in pre-eclampsia.