STUDY OF SOME FACTORS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME IN CHILDHOOD

We measured circulating immune complexes, tumor necrosis factor and an tineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies in sera coming from 25 patients during the acute reactant phase of the classical form of hemolytic ure mic syndrome, aiming to elucidate a potential participation of these p arameters in the pathogenesis of the disease. Circulating immune compl exes were elevated in the 18 patients in whom they were measured. Tumo r necrosis factor was not elevated and antineutrophil cytoplasmatic an tibodies were not detected. It is concluded that these results rule ou t the participation of antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies in the pathogenesis of the disease and that the role of circulating immune co mplexes, although elevated, remains undefined.