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Effect of cyclosporine a on circulating immune complexes in IgA nephropathy

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Abstract

This work was undertaken to examine the effect of cyclosporine A (CyA) on the serum concentration of circulating immune complexes in 22 patients with IgA nephropathy during an infection-free period. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: 11 patients received oral cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks and 11 patients received placebo (0.05 ml/kg/day). A significant reduction of proteinuria was observed in patients on CyA therapy but not in those receiving placebo. IgG-circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined by solid phase Clq enzyme immunoassay (Clq EIA) and radial immunodiffusion (RID) and IgA-CIC were determined by solid phase anti-C3 enzyme immunoassay (anti-C3 EIA) and radial immunodiffusion. There was no change in IgA-CIC measured by RID and anti-C3 EIA after 12 weeks of CyA therapy. Similarly, changes in IgG-CIC were not demonstrated with CyA therapy. No apparent decrease in IgG-CIC or IgA-CIC was observed with placebo treatment. Our study suggests that immunomodulation by CyA therapy does not affect the IgA-CIC and IgG-CIC levels in patients with IgA nephropathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    K. N. Lai

  2. Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    C. W. K. Lam

  3. Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    J. S. L. Tam

  4. Department of Morbid Anatomy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    F. M. Lai

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    I. K. P. Cheng

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  1. K. N. Lai
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  4. J. S. L. Tam
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Lai, K.N., Lam, C.W.K., Cheng, I.K.P. et al. Effect of cyclosporine a on circulating immune complexes in IgA nephropathy. International Urology and Nephrology 23, 265–274 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550423

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550423

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