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Circulating immune complexes were measured in 35 patients with polymorphic eruption of pregnancy employing three different techniques. No significant abnormalities were detected by the C1q solid phase binding assay and polyethylene glycol precipitation of immunoglobulin G. However, using a solid phase polyclonal rheumatoid factor binding assay, which detects small immune complexes, we demonstrated a significant reduction in the level of circulating immune complexes during the acute stage of the eruption. We suggest that the leakage of small immune complexes through dilated upper dermal vessels may play a role in the aetiology of polymorphic eruption of pregnancy.

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EnglandIn the previous paper we examined the evidence for a cross-reaction between heart valves and the Cpolysaccharide of Group A streptococci. In this paper we examine the reactions of sera raised against whole heart valves with the chemical fractions of the valves to see if the fractionation techniques separate the antigenic components. Also we examine the reaction of the sera with cryostat sections of human tissue to see in which tissues of the human body antigenic determinants shared with the valves are present. In this immunofluorescent study the reactions were compared with those given by antistreptococcal sera to see The CTC extracts isolated with either technique gave three to five lines with antiBHV sera, the number of lines being reduced to two with sera which had been absorbed with dried bovine serum (100 mg./ml.).The crude soluble collagen (CSC) fractions gave patterns very similar to those given by CTC extracts. As has been discussed in the previous paper, CSC-D gave a faint non-specific line with all sera. The solutions of this particular fraction for double diffusion purpose were made by dissolving it in 8 M urea and dialysing against buffered saline pH 7-2.The CTC extract and crude soluble collagen contained at least one antigen in common which gave a fused identity line.VSGP (valvular structural glycoprotein), isolated according to the original procedure, gave two or three lines with homologous sera, of which one or two persisted when sera absorbed with bovine serum were used. VSGP-D gave only one line with one of the lines given by VSGP. VSGP (but not VSGP-D) gave a weak non-specific line with all sera, probably owing to the collagen present.AntiBHV sera were absorbed with different fractions and the absorbed sera reacted with the fractions. Double absorption with CTC at concentration 10 mg./ml. removed all antibodies against any valvular fraction. Sera absorbed with CSC or CSC-D still gave one line when tested against CTC or VSGP fractions. VSGP absorbed sera gave single line with CTC and CSC and no linewith VSGP-D. VSGP-D absorbed sera were still able to give two or three on 27 April 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.

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