Selective removal of plasma cryoglobulins in cryoglobulinaemia.
Cryoglobulins were removed from the plasma of two patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia (IgM(k)-IgG type) associated with severe membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis and angiitis. The removal of about half the circulating cryo-Igs ('cryo-Igpheresis') was followed by a brisk rebound in cryo-Igs due to the rapid synthesis rate of monoclonal IgM(k) with anti-IgG activity. 'Cryo-Igpheresis' + cyclophosphamide treatment suppressed the rebound of cryo-IgGs, but not that of the cryo-IgMs. This differential effect was due to decrease of the antibody activity of cryo-IgMs. The clinical implications of such changes need further evaluation.
D003450:Cryoglobulins; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications
D003450:Cryoglobulins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003520:Cyclophosphamide