title: Disappearance of cryoglobulins and remission of symptoms in a patient with HCV-associated type II mixed cryoglobulinemia after HIV-1 infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Università di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rusconi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zehender
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003450:Cryoglobulins