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Cryoglobulinemia
Cryoglobulinemia is a condition in which abnormal antibodies or immune complexes called cryoglobulins clump in the cold and trigger immune‑mediated inflammation of small and medium blood vessels. It often causes skin purpura, joint pain, nerve symptoms, and sometimes kidney damage, and treatment targets the cause while controlling inflammation.
Prevalence
unknown
N/A
US Estimated
N/A
Europe Estimated
Age of Onset
adults - older adults
ICD-10
D89.1
Inheritance Pattern
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Mitochondrial/Multigenic
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
5 Facts you should know
FACT
Occurs when an abnormal immune system makes the protein cryoglobulin
FACT
At temperatures less than 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, cryoglobulins become solid or gel-like and can block blood vessels
FACT
Symptoms may include skin ulcers, purpura Raynaud's phenomenon), joint pain, and kidney problems
FACT
Kidney disease - primarily membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis – occurs in about 1 in 3 patients
FACT
Cryoglobulinemia is also associated with immune system cancers, such as multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkins lymphoma
Interest over time
Google searches
Common signs & symptoms
Palpable purpura
Arthralgia
Weakness (fatigue)
Skin
Livedo reticularis, ulcers, digital ischemia
Renal
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
Proteinuria, hematuria, renal insufficiency
Neurologic
Peripheral neuropathy (sensory > motor)
Systemic associations
Chronic hepatitis C
B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders
Autoimmune disease
Current treatments
Treat underlying cause