Introduction:

Biomarkers are essential in the diagnosis and prognosis of systemic erythematous lupus in which clinical manifestations are extremely complex and heterogeneous.

Objective:

To determine the clinical value of circulating immunocomplexes in patients with systemic erythematous lupus.

Methods:

Serum levels of C1q-binding immunocomplexes and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA), anti-nucleosome (anti-Nuc) and anti-ribosomal proteins (anti-RibP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 93 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nonparametric tests were used to test the association between immunocomplexes and auto-antibodies. The frequency of lupus nephritis in the circulating immunocomplex positive and negative patient groups was compared using Chi square.

Results:

Immunocomplexes were found in 24 (25.8%) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The patients with the highest immunocomplex titers were positive for the three autoantibodies used (p = 0.044). A direct correlation was found between the levels of anti-RibP and immunocomplexes (Rho = 0.303, p = 0.003) and between anti-dsDNA and anti-Nuc (Rho = 0.449, p = 0.001). Lupus nephritis occurred in 58.3% of immunocomplex patients, and 31.9% immunocomplex negative patients (p = 0.213).

Conclusions:

Circulating immunocomplexes characterized a smaller fraction of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Their presence was not associated with anti-dsDNA antibodies or lupus nephritis.

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