Deposits of immunoglobulins and C3 in the walls of human renal arteries.

Ninety-one renal biopsies were examined by immunofluorescent staining for the presence of C3 and immunoglobulins in the walls of renal arteries (RAW), tubules and glomeruli. The diseases studied were non-systemic renal immune complex diseases, systemic diseases with kidney involvement, renal diseases with minimal pathological changes and histological normal kidneys. In a high percentage of cases C3 and, to a lesser degree, deposits of immunoglobulins were found in the RAW, the deposits being found both in immunological and non-immunological diseases. Deposits of C3 but not of C4, C1q, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulins were found in the RAW of 11 normal kidneys examined.