Overview
Cryoglobulins are abnormal proteins in the blood. If you have cryoglobulinemia (kry-o-glob-u-lih-NEE-me-uh), these proteins may clump together at temperatures below 98.6 F (37 C). These gelatinous protein clumps can impede your blood circulation, which can damage your skin, joints, nerves and organs — particularly your kidneys and liver.
Symptoms usually come and go, and may include:
- Skin lesions. Most people with cryoglobulinemia develop purplish skin lesions on their legs. In some cases, leg ulcers also occur.
- Joint pain. Symptoms resembling rheumatoid arthritis are common in cryoglobulinemia.
- Peripheral neuropathy. Cryoglobulinemia can damage the nerves at the tips of your fingers and toes, causing numbness and other problems.
Different types of cryoglobulinemia have been associated with hepatitis C infection, certain cancers of the blood and autoimmune diseases. Treatment focuses on controlling these underlying diseases and managing symptoms.
Cryoglobulinemia care at Mayo Clinic
Jan. 30, 2018
References
- Hochberg MC, et al. Cryoglobulinemia. In: Rheumatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2015. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 7, 2017.
- Ferri FF. Cryoglobulinemia. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 7, 2017.
- AskMayoExpert. Cryoglobulinemia. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
- Muchtar E, et al. How I treat cryoglobulinemia. Blood. 2017;129:289.
- Fervenza FC, et al. Treatment of the mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 11, 2017.
- Fridey JL, et al. Therapeutic apheresis (plasma exchange or cytapheresis): Indications and technology. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 11, 2017.
- Gertz MA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 13, 2017.