Abstract

In this study, we measured serum levels of circulating immune complexes in 27 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in 10 healthy subjects using nephelometric assay and determined whether there was any correlation with disease activity. Disease activity. Disease activity was assessed according to Lupus Activity Index system. The serum levels of circulating immune complexes were found significantly higher in patients than control subjects (7.22 ± 2.85 (ag/ml and 4.24 ± 0.68 respectively). Clinically active patients were also found to have significantly higher levels than those clinically inactive (8.19 ± 2.7 (ug/ml and 6.03 ± 2.5 ug/ml respectively). It was concluded that the measurement of circulating immune complexes might be helpful to assess disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.