Description
he BUHLMANN CIC-C1Q ELISA is intended for the quantitative in vitro diagnostic determination of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in serum and plasma of patients with various autoimmune and other CIC-related diseases. CICs are formed by the interaction of antibodies with immunogenic antigens. Immune complexes with only a slight excess of antibody and antigen are soluble and activate complement. CIC formation may be viewed as a host defense mechanism when directed against foreign antigens. Under normal circumstances CICs are cleared by phagocytosis. If CICs escape phagocytotic clearance they may be deposited in endothelial or vascular structures, thus, provoking an inflammatory response leading to tissue damage. CICs have been associated with an increasing variety of diseases, such as autoimmune, rheumatic, infectious, metabolic, renal, hematological and neoplastic diseases. The CIC-C1q ELISA by BÜHLMANN offers clinicians and researchers a tool that provides useful clinical information regarding immunopathology, prognosis, and follow-up of rheumatic and autoimmune disorders