Circulating immune complexes and complement levels in relation to the clinical presentation of Nigerian children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Circulating immune complexes have been detected in the sera of 24 Nigerian children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis using two methods. There was a significant correlation between levels of soluble complexes, detected in samples taken from patients in the oliguric phase of acute nephritis, and severity of disease, as judged by blood urea levels. Serial estimation of immune complexes was more useful than serial C3 estimation in predicting the onset of anuria in two patients admitted with mild disease who subsequently deteriorated. With one exception, C4 values were normal. Factor B levels were low in 90% of cases, in keeping with activation of the alternate complement pathway.