Abstract
The inhibition of lymphocyte Fc rosette formation was studied in sera of patients with infective endocarditis. The pretreatment value of sensitised chicken erythrocyte (EA) rosette inhibition was 37.9±7.8%; in controls it was 4.2±1.3% (P<0.001). The posttreatment value was 2.8±2.1%. Six patients had culture-negative infective endocarditis, and in them the value of EA rosette inhibition was higher than in the others (42.3±7.1%). The measurement of circulating immune complexes may be a diagnostic tool in patients with culture-negative Infective endocarditis.