Circulating immune complexes and complement in bancroftian filariasis.

Sixty filarial cases, 30 endemic normal individuals and 10 non endemic subjects were investigated for the presence of Circulating Immune Complexes (CICs) and Complement Component C3. Using Polyethylene Glycol precipitation and Polyethylene Glycol precipitation-Complement Consumption methods, it was observed that CICs were raised significantly in chronic lymphatic filariasis and Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia (TPE) groups. The results observed by both the techniques for detection of CICs were comparable. Low levels of C3 were detected in chronic lymphatic filariasis cases by single radial immunodiffusion method, suggesting the utilization of complement by immune complexes.