Cryoglobulinemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains large amounts of pathological cold sensitive antibodies called cryoglobulins – proteins (mostly immunoglobulins themselves) that become insoluble at reduced temperatures.[1] This should be contrasted with cold agglutinins, which cause agglutination of red blood cells.
Cryoglobulins typically precipitate (clumps together) at temperatures below normal body temperature – 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) – and will dissolve again if the blood is heated. The precipitated clump can block blood vessels and cause toes and fingers to become gangrenous. While this disease is commonly referred to as cryoglobulinemia in the medical literature, it is better termed cryoglobulinemic disease for two reasons: 1) cryoglobulinemia is also used to indicate the circulation of (usually low levels of) cryoglobulins in the absence of any symptoms or disease and 2) healthy individuals can develop transient asymptomatic cryoglobulinemia following certain infections.[2]
In contrast to these benign instances of circulating cryoglobulins, cryoglobulinemic disease involves the signs and symptoms of precipitating cryoglobulins and is commonly associated with various pre-malignant, malignant, infectious, or autoimmune diseases that are the underlying cause for production of the cryoglobulins.[2][3]
^"Cryoglobulinemia" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
^ abRetamozo S, Brito-Zerón P, Bosch X, Stone JH, Ramos-Casals M (2013). "Cryoglobulinemic disease". Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.). 27 (11): 1098–1105, 1110–6. PMID 24575538.
^Ghetie D, Mehraban N, Sibley CH (2015). "Cold hard facts of cryoglobulinemia: updates on clinical features and treatment advances". Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 41 (1): 93–108, viii–ix. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.09.008. PMID 25399942.
Cryoglobulinemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains large amounts of pathological cold sensitive antibodies called cryoglobulins – proteins...
of symptoms, cryoglobulinemia and cold agglutinin disease differ in the process by which blood vessels become blocked. In cryoglobulinemia, antibodies...
vasculitis (CryoVas). Cryoglobulins type II and III, also known as mixed cryoglobulinemia, are composed of polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig)G and either monoclonal...
inflammation, infection, or malignancies. Rarely, cryoglobulinemia (i.e. essential cryoglobulinemia) occurs in patients without these or other identifiable...
often followed by gangrene. Autoamputation is a feature of ainhum, cryoglobulinemia and thromboangiitis obliterans. In 1881, Thornton made the case of...
prevalence in Southern Europe. Only about 30% of individuals with cryoglobulinemia develop vasculitis and associated symptoms. In a review of 279 patients...
cryofibrinogenemia. Cryoglobulinemia may occur without evidence of an underlying associated disorders, i.e. primary cryoglobulinemia (also termed essential...
common problem due to hepatitis C but not involving the liver is mixed cryoglobulinemia (usually the type II form) – an inflammation of small and medium-sized...
conditions include infections, toxicities, antiphospholipid syndrome, cryoglobulinemia, neoplasms. In these cases, the observed cutaneous changes are known...
to precipitate within blood vessel with cold, a phenomenon known as cryoglobulinemia. Others may make blood too viscous to flow smoothly (usually with IgM...
painful and weak muscles. Meltzer's triad indicates the condition cryoglobulinemia. Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized...
underlying associated disorders, i.e. primary cryoglobulinemia (also termed essential cryoglobulinemia) or, far more commonly, with evidence of an underlying...
meningoencephalitis. Glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome and/or cryoglobulinemia Mixed cryoglobulinemia, where antibodies in the bloodstream react inappropriately...
Infections: leprosy, lyme disease, parvovirus B19, HIV Sarcoidosis Cryoglobulinemia Reactions to exposure to chemical agents, including trichloroethylene...
contrast mediated selective renal vasospasm, hypercoagulability and cryoglobulinemia likely represent just a few of the known pieces of this puzzling phenomena...
Coagulation factor inhibitors Immunoadsorption III Plasmapheresis IV Cryoglobulinemia Severe/symptomatic Plasmapheresis I Secondary to Hepatitis C Immunoadsorption...
condition characterized by wheals, due to serum abnormalities such as cryoglobulinemia or cryofibrinogenemia are extremely rare, and are then associated with...
intravascular protein deposition diseases causing retiform purpura are cryoglobulinemia (type I), cryofibrinogenemia, and paraproteinemia. Some embolic disorders...
Other immune-mediated hematological disorders, such as essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and aplastic anemia have been described as part of the extrahepatic...