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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
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
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
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
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
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
Mims CA, White DO (1984) Viral pathogenesis and immunology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 141–145
Greenwood BM, Whittle HC, Bryceson ADM (1973) Allergic complications of meningococcal disease. II. Immunological investigations. Br Med J II:737–740
Manicourt DH, Orloff S (1982) Gonococcal arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. Study of serum and synovial fluid immune complex levels. Arthritis Rheum 25:574–578
Hardin JA, Steere AC, Malawista SE (1979) Immune complexes and the evolution of Lyme arthritis. N Engl J Med 301:1358–1363
Ford DK (1983) Potential lessons of epidemic polyarthritis. Med J Aust II:254–255
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
Fraser JRE (1986) Epidemic polyarthritis and Ross River virus disease. Clin Rheum Dis 12:369–388
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
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
Eisenberg RA, Theofilopoulos AN, Dixon FJ (1977) Use of bovine conglutinin for the assay of immune complexes. J Immunol 118:1428–1434
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
Almeida J, Waterson AP (1969) Immune complexes in hepatitis. Lancet II:983–986
Oldstone MA (1975) Virus neutralization and virus-in-duced immune complex disease. Prog Med Virol 19:84–119
Vergani D, Morgan-Capner P, Davies ET, Anderson AW, Tee DEH, Pattison JR (1980) Joint symptoms, immune complexes, and rubella. Lancet II:321–322
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
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
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
Carter IWJ, Fraser JRE, Cloonan MJ (1987) Specific IgA antibody response to Ross River virus infection. Immunol Cell Biol 65:511–513
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272432