[Circulating immune complexes in acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and periarteritis nodosa (author's transl)].

Circulating immune complexes were determined in patients with acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and periarteriitis nodosa with the Raji cell technique. Circulating immune complexes were found in 11/18 HBsAg positive and HBsAg negative cases of acute viral hepatitis. In HBsAg positive chronic active hepatitis immune complexes were detectable in 42/43 cases but only in 1/27 HBsAg negative cases. Ten healthy HBsAg carriers demonstrated no detectable immune complexes. Using FITC conjugated antisera against HBs, HBc, and e antigen, immune complexes could not be found in any case of acute viral hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis. Elution of immune complexes from Raji demonstrated IgG, C'3 and a lack of HBsAg, HBc or e antigen. Immune complexes were present in 4/8 cases with periarteriitis nodosa. Viral components were detectable in one case.