Cryoglobulinemia is the presence of abnormal proteins in the bloodstream which thicken or gel on exposure to cold (=cryoglobulins).

Causes

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These proteins may be present in mycoplasma pneumonia, multiple myeloma, certain leukemias, primary macroglobulinemia, and some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. This is also found occasionally as a symptom in 35% of chronic hepatitis C infections (Pascual et al 1990).

Reference

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• Pascual M, Perrin L, Giostra E, Schifferli JA. Hepatitis C virus in patients with cryoglobulinemia type II. J Infect Dis 1990;162:569-570. PMID 2115556.

See also

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• Paraproteinemia
• Gammopathy

External links

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• eMedicine
• Mayo Clinic
• NIH/Medline

Cryoglobulinémie