Cryoglobulinemia

Overview

Cryoglobulins are abnormal proteins in the blood. If you have cryoglobulinemia (kri-oh-glob-u-lih-NE-me-uh), these cryoglobulins clump together, causing the plasma to become thick like maple syrup and deposit clumps in blood vessels. This limits blood flow, increasing the risk of blood clots, blocked arteries, and damage to your skin, joints, muscles, nerves, kidneys and liver. The course of the disease will vary, depending on the severity. Symptoms may come and go. For some people, cold temperatures may cause flare-ups.

The cause of cryoglobulinemia is not known, but it may be associated with other diseases, such as liver disease, infection, connective tissue disease, multiple myeloma or lymphoma, or hepatitis C virus infection. Cryoglobulinemia may be an autoimmune disorder.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for cryoglobulinemia

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic doctors have a worldwide reputation for diagnosis and treatment of rare blood disorders, including cryoglobulinemia. Mayo specialists have been treating cryoglobulinemia for decades, attracting one of the largest patient populations with this disease.
• Team approach. A multispecialty team of experts works together to develop a treatment plan based on your needs. Your treatment team may include specialists from hematology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology and other areas as needed.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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