Circulating immune complexes in Fièvre boutonneuse.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) occurred in 36% of a group of 25 patients with Fièvre boutonneuse. CIC were present only in the first week of the disease and there was no evidence of other humoral immunological abnormalities or alterations of the coagulation factors studied. The presence of CIC was not associated with a more severe clinical manifestation or with symptoms or tissue injuries. It is considered that CIC do not play a major role in Fièvre boutonneuse.