Essential Cryoglobulinemia
The essential cryoglobulinemia belongs to the group of so-called "non-Anca-associated vasculitis. These are a group of diseases, which involve the deposition of immune complexes to inflammation of small blood vessels (vasculitis).
In the case of essential cryoglobulinemia form under cold influence immune complexes consisting of IgM and IgG.
The cause of the essential cryoglobulinemia is unclear. But is found in many patients, chronic hepatitis C, so that one can expect a correlation.
Symptoms
- Due to the damage to the vessel walls, it is especially in the area of fingers and toes to skin bleeding (purpura).
- Joint pain (arthralgia)
- Kidney damage caused by a glomerulonephritis with hematuria and proteinuria (presence of blood or protein in urine)
- About 60% of patients have liver involvement
- In 50% of patients there is a neuropathy (disease of peripheral nerves)
Diagnosis
- It results from the medical history and a vascular biopsy
- Detection of hepatitis C
- The cryoglobulinemia may also be present in a secondary including multiple myeloma.
Therapy
- Treatment of the underlying disease (eg hepatitis)
- The benefits of therapy with interferon is evidenced by recent studies.