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.
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Symptoms
Symptoms usually come and go, and may include:
- Skin lesions. Most people with cryoglobulinemia develop purplish skin lesions on their legs. In some people, 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.
Causes
Cryoglobulinemia has been associated with:
- Infections. Hepatitis C is the most common infection associated with cryoglobulinemia. Others include hepatitis B, HIV, Epstein-Barr, toxoplasmosis and malaria.
- Certain cancers. Some cancers of the blood, such as multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, can sometimes cause cryoglobulinemia.
- Autoimmune disorders. Disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome increase the risk of developing cryoglobulinemia.
Risk factors
Risk factors of cryoglobulinemia may include:
- Your sex. Cryoglobulinemia occurs more frequently in women than in men.
- Age. Symptoms of cryoglobulinemia usually begin in middle age.
- Other diseases. Cryoglobulinemia is associated with diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, lupus and Sjogren's syndrome.
Cryoglobulinemia care at Mayo Clinic
Dec. 20, 2019
- Hochberg MC, et al. Cryoglobulinemia. In: Rheumatology. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 13, 2019.
- Ferri FF. Cryoglobulinemia. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2020. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 13, 2019.
- AskMayoExpert. Cryoglobulinemia. Mayo Clinic. 2019.
- Desbois AC, et al. Cryoglobulinemia: An update in 2019. Joint Bone Spine. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.jbspin.2019.01.016.
- Therapeutic apheresis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/transfusion-medicine/therapeutic-apheresis?query=plasmapheresis. Accessed Nov. 13, 2019.
- Muchtar E, et al. How I treat cryoglobulinemia. Blood. 2017; doi:10.1182/blood-2016-09-719773.
- Gertz MA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Nov. 18, 2019.
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