Circulating immune complexes in children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Sera from 22 children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis were examined for circulating immune complexes (CIC) during the acute phase of the disease and six to eight months following its onset. CIC were found in 10 of 22 (45%) children during the acute phase and in 4 of 19 (21%) during follow-up. No correlation was found between the presence of CIC during the acute phase and disease severity as measured by several clinical and laboratory parameters. There was, however, a positive correlation between the presence of CIC in serum and the duration of proteinuria following disease onset. The possible role of CIC in the induction of chronic glomerulonephritis following acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is discussed.