C. IMMUNOLOGICAL TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF
KIDNEY DISEASES:
- Complement:
Complement System is activated and consumed in immune-
complex formation. Hypocomplementemia consequently occur in diseases
such as: post infectious glomerulonephritis, shunt nephritis, nephritis
associating subacute bacterial endocarditis, lupus nephritis and idiopathic
mesangio-capillary (membrano-proliferative) glomerulonephritis. Usually,
the complement system is assessed by measuring the total haemolytic
complement (CH50) activity, C3 and C4 concentrations. - Immunoglobulins:
Such as serum IgA concentrations could be high in IgA
nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein disease. - Circulating Immune Complexes (C.I.C.):
Circulating immune complexes (C.I.C.) are detected in diseases
such as cryoglobulinaemias, SLE and collagen diseases. C.I.C. assays
have a limited role in clinical practice. - Autoantibodies:
These include antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-DNA, anti-
neutrophil cytoplasm auto antibodies (ANCA), and anti-glomerular
basement membrane antibodies (anti-GBM).