Cryoglobulinemia

Presence of abnormal circulating autoimmune immunoglobulins (cryoglobulins) that precipitate or gel at reduced temperatures and redissolve on warming, often causing immune-complex vasculitis with small- to medium-vessel involvement and potential skin, renal, neurologic, or articular manifestations.

Causes

• Hematological cancer

  • Multiple myeloma

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

• Chronic infections

  • Hepatitis C virus

  • HIV

  • Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)

• Chronic autoimmune diseases

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Sjögren syndrome

  • Rheumatoid arthritis