Cutaneous periarteritis nodosa. Hepatitis B surface antigen-containing immunocomplexes and polymorphonuclear-leukocyte lysosomal enzyme release

Abstract

In a patient with cold-induced cutaneous periarteritis nodosa, cryoprecipitation of a circulating hepatitis B surface antigen-containing immunocomplex resulted in phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes with prominent vacuolation of the cells and extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes. We believe this immunocomplex attached itself to the cell membrane and induced vacuolation and degranulation in normal neutrophils.