Disappearance of cryoglobulins and remission of symptoms in a patient with HCV-associated type II mixed cryoglobulinemia after HIV-1 infection.
OBJECTIVE
We report the case of a woman with long-lasting mixed cryoglobulinemic syndrome, who experienced clinical and laboratory remission of her cryoglobulinemia after becoming infected with human immuno-deficiency virus and developing HIV-1 induced immunosuppression.


METHODS
Serum cryoglobulin concentrations and the CD4+ cell count were monitored every three months.


RESULTS
After the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection, the immunological status of the patient was constantly depressed (CD4+ cell count dropping from 337/microL in January 1991 to 21/microL in June 1994). Serum cryoglobulins were persistently absent over 43 months of follow-up, despite the presence of HCV-RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case, HIV-1 induced immunodeficiency seems to be responsible for the remission of the cryoglobulin syndrome and the disappearance of serum cryoglobulins. These findings indicate that CD4+ T lymphocytes may play a role in regulating the activity of cryoprecipitating rheumatoid factor secreting B cell clones.
Antinori
S
S
Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Università di Milano, Italy.
Galimberti
L
L
Rusconi
S
S
Zehender
G
G
Esposito
R
R
Galli
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D003450:Cryoglobulins