Cryoglobulinemia

Saadia Mohsin, MD and Kashif S. Anwar, MD Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Cryoglobulins (CGs) consist of immunoglobulins (Igs) and complement precipitating in serum and plasma.
CGs precipitate at cold temperatures 98.6°F (<37°C) and dissolve on rewarming...

DIAGNOSIS

Triad: palpable purpura, arthralgia, myalgia
Type I
- Commonly asymptomatic
- More frequent association with signs of peripheral vessel occlusion (e.g., Raynaud phenomenon, acrocyanosis, livedo r...

TREATMENT

Goals:
- Symptomatic management of vasculitis and/or hyperviscosity and limit damage caused by circulating immune complexes
- Limit or suppress B-lymphocyte proliferation.
- Eradicate HCV (if appli...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

Mixed CG: Low-antigen content (LAC) diet is suggested for symptomatic improvement (no meat except turkey; no eggs, dairy products, or food additives; no preservatives; no beverages ex...

REFERENCES

Takada S, Shimizu T, Hadano Y, et al. Cryoglobulinemia (review). Mol Med Rep. 2012;6(1):3–8. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

Porres-Aguilar M, Rodriguez-Castro CE, Osvaldo P, et al. F...

ADDITIONAL READING

Alpers CE, Smith KD. Cryoglobulinemia and renal disease. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2008;17(3):243–249. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
Anis S, Abbas K, Mubarak M, et al. Vasc...

CODES

ICD10

D89.1 Cryoglobulinemia

ICD9

273.2 Other paraproteinemias

SNOMED

30911005 cryoglobulinemia (disorder)
38675009 Monoclonal cryoimmunoglobulinemia (disorder)
44371002 Mixed polyclonal cryoimmunogl...

CLINICAL PEARLS

CGs are circulating Igs that precipitate at cold temperatures (below 37°C) and dissolve on rewarming.
Type I: associated with lymphoproliferative disorders (e.g., multiple myeloma, Wald...

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