C1Q COMPLEXES WITH BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN AND AMYLOID P-COMPONENT IN SERA OF PATIENTS WITH DIALYSIS-ASSOCIATED AMYLOIDOSIS

We studied complexes composed of Clq and beta(2)-microglobulin (Clq .b eta(2)M) or serum amyloid P-component (Clq . SAP) in the sera of 38 pa tients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and 20 healthy control subjects usi ng an enzyme-linked immunoassay. We also compared complex levels in HD patients with and without symptoms of HD-associated amyloidosis (HA). Serum Clq .beta(2)M levels were significantly higher in HD patients w ithout HA than in healthy control subjects and significantly higher in HD patients with HA than in HD patients without HA. Serum Clq . SAP l evels were significantly lower in patients with HA than in those witho ut HA. These results suggest that Clq .beta(2)M may contribute to HA.