Skip to main content
Log in

Immune complexes and ross river virus disease (epidemic polyarthritis)

  • Originals
  • Published:
Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Immune complexes were sought in serum and synovial fluid in Ross River virus disease (epidemic polyarthritis). Multiple samples from 15 patients showing varied degrees of disease activity over a 3 month period were analysed for their content of complement components C3 and C4, and for C1q solid-phase and Raji cell binding activity. Levels of C3 and C1q binding activity were normal. C4 and Raji cell binding activity were normal except for three high levels of Raji cell binding, of which two were accompanied by low levels of C4, with normal C3 and C1q binding. Synovial fluid showed anomalous Raji cell reactivity of uncertain significance. Conglutinin solid-phase binding activity and IgG rheumatoid factor were compared in the serum of 20 patients during active disease and after recovery. The results were identical and within the normal range in both phases. One patient developed IgM rheumatoid factor in a low titre late in his illness. Although these findings do not entirely exclude a role for immune complexes formed at the onset in the circulation or tissues, it is concluded from this and other evidence that circulating complexes are not commonly responsible for the persistence of syndroms in this disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosen L, Gubler DJ, Bennett PH (1981) Epidemic polyarthritis (Ross River virus infection) in the Cook Islands. Am J Trop Med Hyg 30:1294–302

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fraser JRE, Cunningham AL, Clarris BJ, Aaskov JG, Leach R (1981) Cytology of synovial effusions in epidemic polyarthritis. Aust NZ J Med 11:168–173

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fraser JRE, Ratnamohan VM, Dowling JPG, Becker GJ, Varigos GA (1983) The exanthem of Ross River virus infection: histology, location of virus antigen and nature of inflammatory infiltrate. J Clin Pathol 36:1256–1263

    Google Scholar 

  4. Doherty RL, Gorman BM, Whtehead RH, Carley JG (1964) Studies of epidemic polyarthritis: the significance of three Group A arboviruses isolated from mosquitoes in Queensland. Aust Ann Med 13:322–327

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aaskov JG, Fraser JRE, Dalglish DA (1981) Specific and non-specific immunological changes in epidemic polyarthritis patients. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci 59:599–608

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mims CA, White DO (1984) Viral pathogenesis and immunology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 141–145

    Google Scholar 

  7. Greenwood BM, Whittle HC, Bryceson ADM (1973) Allergic complications of meningococcal disease. II. Immunological investigations. Br Med J II:737–740

    Google Scholar 

  8. Manicourt DH, Orloff S (1982) Gonococcal arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. Study of serum and synovial fluid immune complex levels. Arthritis Rheum 25:574–578

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hardin JA, Steere AC, Malawista SE (1979) Immune complexes and the evolution of Lyme arthritis. N Engl J Med 301:1358–1363

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ford DK (1983) Potential lessons of epidemic polyarthritis. Med J Aust II:254–255

    Google Scholar 

  11. Fraser JRE, Tait B, Aaskov JG, Cunningham AL (1980) Possible genetic determinants in epidemic polyarthritis caused by Ross River virus infection. Aust NZ J Med 10:597–603

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fraser JRE (1986) Epidemic polyarthritis and Ross River virus disease. Clin Rheum Dis 12:369–388

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hay FC, Nineham LJ, Roitt IM (1976) Routine assay for the detection of immune complexes of known immunoglobulin class using solid phase C1q. Clin Exp Immunol 24:396–400

    Google Scholar 

  14. Theofilipoulos AN, Wilson CB, Dixon FJ (1976) The Raji cell radioimmune assay for detecting immune complexes in human sera. J Clin Invest 57:169–182

    Google Scholar 

  15. Eisenberg RA, Theofilopoulos AN, Dixon FJ (1977) Use of bovine conglutinin for the assay of immune complexes. J Immunol 118:1428–1434

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hay FC, Nineham LF, Roitt IM (1975) Routine assay for detection of IgG and IgM antiglobulins in seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Br Med J II:203–204

    Google Scholar 

  17. Almeida J, Waterson AP (1969) Immune complexes in hepatitis. Lancet II:983–986

    Google Scholar 

  18. Oldstone MA (1975) Virus neutralization and virus-in-duced immune complex disease. Prog Med Virol 19:84–119

    Google Scholar 

  19. Vergani D, Morgan-Capner P, Davies ET, Anderson AW, Tee DEH, Pattison JR (1980) Joint symptoms, immune complexes, and rubella. Lancet II:321–322

    Google Scholar 

  20. Coyle PK, Wolinsky JS, Buimovici-Klein E, Moucha R, Cooper LZ (1982) Rubella-specific immune complexes after congenital infection and vaccination. Infect Immun 36:498–503

    Google Scholar 

  21. Singh VK, Tingle AJ, Schulzer M (1986) Rubella-associated arthritis. II. Relationship between circulating immune complex levels and joint manifestations. Ann Rheum Dis 45:115–119

    Google Scholar 

  22. Julkunen I, Brummer-Korvenkontio M, Hautanen A, Kuusisto P, Lindstrom P, Wager O, Penttinen K (1986) Elevated serum immune complex levels in Pogosta disease, an acute alphavirus infection with rash and arthritis. J Clin Lab Immunol 21:77–82

    Google Scholar 

  23. Carter IWJ, Fraser JRE, Cloonan MJ (1987) Specific IgA antibody response to Ross River virus infection. Immunol Cell Biol 65:511–513

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fraser, J.R.E., Cunningham, A.L., Mathews, J.D. et al. Immune complexes and ross river virus disease (epidemic polyarthritis). Rheumatol Int 8, 113–117 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272432

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272432

Key words

Navigation