Quantitation of circulating immune complexes in patients with chronic periapical lesions.

Quantitation of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was done in 45 patients with chronic periapical lesions. The levels were compared with those of age-matched healthy individuals. Both patients with chronic periapical granuloma and periapical cysts showed significantly higher levels of CIC than the controls. This observation indicates that the continuous presence of root canal antigens may cause elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. The possibility of chronic periapical lesions acting as foci of infection is discussed, and the importance of early treatment of these conditions is emphasized.