The clearance of pre-formed immune complexes in rats with Heymann's nephritis.

Previous studies have indicated the presence of reticuloendothelial system (RES) depression in chronic immune complex nephritis in rabbits. To determine whether RES immune complex clearance was abnormal in Heymann's nephritis in rats, radiolabelled pre-formed immune complexes were infused into rats with membranous nephropathy. There was augmented clearance of complexes from the peripheral circulation in animals with membranous nephropathy relative to controls, indicating the absence of RES saturation.