About Immune Complex Diseases

A disease caused by the deposition of antigen-antibody or antigen-antibody complement complexes on the surface of cells, resulting in the development of chronic or acute inflammation, which may be manifested by vasculitis, endocarditis, neuritis, or glomerulonephritis. Antigens bound to antibodies in immune complexes are normally cleared by various cellular mechanisms physiologically capable of eliminating even small quantities of ‘foreign’ antigens from circulation. Immune complex disease in humans is seen primarily in the setting of infection and in response to various therapeutic agents of protein or non-protein nature.