Circulating immune complexes (C1.C) were determined in 30 cases of active rheumatic fever (ARF

24 -with carditis

6 -without carditis)

SO cases of inactive rheumatic fever

30 patients of acute nephritis and 30 healthy children. CIC were measured by the following three methods: C-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C10-ELISA)

conglutinin-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (K-ELISA) and PEG precipitation. Both C-ELISA and K-ELISA are specific

sensitive and easy to perform.The results showed that the levels of CIC were significantly elevated in ARF with carditis (by three assays) and in acute nephritis (by C1q-ELISA and K-ELISA)

The levels of CIC in ARE with carditis-were much higher than that in APR without carditis (by K-ELISA and PEG precipitation)

the levels of CIC in inactive rheumatic fever significantly declined(by K-ELISA and PEG precipitation). Although the role of CIC in the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever has not been .clarified

the results in this paper suggest that the detection of CIC may be valuable in the assessment of rheumatic activity and cardiac involvement in ARF.In the study

an attempt was also made to detect the class of CIC in ARF by the PEG precipitation and radioimmunodiffusion assay.The results indicated that CIC-eontaining IgG and CIC-containing C3 were elevated in some ARF

but the pathogenic role is yet to be determined