Cryoglobulinemia

Cryoglobulinemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains large amounts of cryoglobulins - proteins that become insoluble at reduced temperatures. Cryoglobulins typically precipitate at temperatures below normal body temperature (37 degrees Celsius) and will dissolve again if the blood is heated. Cryoglobulinemia can be associated with various diseases such as multiple myeloma and hepatitis C infection. Cryoglobulinemia is classically grouped into three types according to the Brouet classification. Type I is most commonly encountered in patients with a plasma cell dyscrasia such as multiple myeloma or Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Types II and III are strongly associated with infection by the hepatitis C virus. There are...