Association of a better kidney graft survival with the presence of circulating immune complexes before transplantation.

The presence of circulating immune complexes was investigated using the C1q-binding assay before and after kidney transplantation in 48 patients with renal failure. Circulating immune complexes were found in 54% of the patients. The presence of circulating immune complexes prior to grafting was associated with a better renal graft survival. Median survival time of grafts in patients with circulating immune complexes was more than 18 months as compared with 21/2 months in patients without such complexes. The incidence of circulating immune complexes in patients before transplant could not be related to the renal disease, viral infections, blood transfusions, or serum levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies, IgG, or IgM.