| Abstract
| - This study reports the quantitative analysis of complement receptor (CR1) molecules on erythrocyte surface, the amount of immunoglobulin-containing material (IgG-IC and IgA1-IM) on the erythrocyte surface, and the concentrations of circulating immune complexes (IgG-CIC and IgA-CIC); also reported are the HLA phenotypes of 44 patients affected by various forms of glomerulonephritis (including 20 primary IgA nephropathy, 11 membranous glomerulonephritis, 9 lupus nephritis and 4 renal vasculitis). Erythrocyte CR1 molecules were found to be decreased (P<0.02) and erythrocyte IgG-IC were less than in controls (P<0.025) in lupus nephritis patients, whereas IgG-CIC were significantly greater (P<0.02). In patients affected by primary IgA nephropathy, mean erythrocyte CR1 concentrations were significantly decreased (P<0.02). Patients with impaired renal function had mean erythrocyte CR1 values significantly greater than those with normal renal function (P<0.002). Immunoglobulin-containing material on the erythrocyte surface was not significantly increased, whereas the serum concentrations of both IgA-CIC and IgG-CIC were significantly increased (P<0.02). In membranous nephropathy erythrocyte CR1 molecules were quantitatively similar to control data and no increase in CIC was observed. Conversely, erythrocyte IgG-IC were significantly increased (P<0.01). No significant relationship among erythrocyte CR1 molecules, erythrocyte surface-associated immunoglobulins, CIC, and HLA phenotype was observed in any patient group.
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