RT Book, Section
A1 Langford, Carol A.
A1 Fauci, Anthony S.
A2 Jameson, J. Larry
A2 Fauci, Anthony S.
A2 Kasper, Dennis L.
A2 Hauser, Stephen L.
A2 Longo, Dan L.
A2 Loscalzo, Joseph
SR Print(0)
ID 1178487919
T1 Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis
T2 Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259644016
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1178487919
RD 2024/04/18
AB Cryoglobulins  are  cold-precipitable  monoclonal  or  polyclonal  immunoglobulins.  Cryoglobulinemia  may  be  associated  with  a  systemic  vasculitis  characterized  by  palpable  purpura,  arthralgias,  weakness,  neuropathy,  and  glomerulonephritis.  Although  this  can  be  observed  in  association  with  a  variety  of  underlying  disorders  including  multiple  myeloma,  lymphoproliferative  disorders,  connective  tissue  diseases,  infection,  and  liver  disease,  in  many  instances  it  appears  to  be  idiopathic.  Because  of  the  apparent  absence  of  an  underlying  disease  and  the  presence  of  cryoprecipitate  containing  oligoclonal/polyclonal  immunoglobulins,  this  entity  was  referred  to  as  essential  mixed  cryoglobulinemia.  Since  the  discovery  of  hepatitis  C,  it  has  been  established  that  the  vast  majority  of  patients  who  were  considered  to  have  essential  mixed  cryoglobulinemia  have  cryoglobulinemic  vasculitis  related  to  hepatitis  C  infection.