Immune complexes in cystic fibrosis.

Eleven patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) chronically infected with mucoid P. aeruginosa 
and ten patients without P. aeruginosa infection were examined for occurrence 
of circulating immune complexes, for immune complex deposits in the dermo-epidermal 
junction of the skin and for precipitins against P. aeruginosa, S. 
aureus, H. influenzae and D. pneumoniae antigens. The serum concentrations of 
haptoglobin, orosomucoid, immunoglobulins, C1q, C3, C4 and total haemolytic complement, antinuclear 
and rheumatoid factor activities as well as white blood cell counts 
and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were determined also. The results indicated that 
6 patients from the chronically P. aeruginosa infected group, exhibiting a 
spectrum of serum precipitins against P. aeruginosa antigens, also had immune 
complexes in the serum, while only one patient (suffering from selective 
IgA deficiency) in the group without P. aeruginosa infection was positive 
for soluble immune complexes. Granular deposits of IgM was found in 
the skin of 10 of the chronically P. aeruginosa infected patients 
and in 7 of the patients without P. aeruginosa infection. A 
few pactients in both groups had dermo- epidermal deposits of C1q, 
C3 or fibrinogen as well. Eight of the patients in the 
chronically infected group and five in the group without P. aeruginosa 
infection had organ non-specific antinuclear factors. The haptoglobin levels appeared to 
be elevated in the chronically infected patients (p less than 0.05). 
None of the other parameters showed any significant difference between the 
two groups. 