Severe cryoglobulinemia in a patient with asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection.
A patient with severe type II cryoglobulinemia after ten years of asymptomatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reported. Laboratory data showed hypergammaglobulinemia with polyclonal IgG and monoclonal IgM, blood hyperviscosity, high level of cryocrit (60%), HCV viremia, and normal levels of serum transaminases. Due to cold exposure, acrocyanosis and cardiac ischemic attack occurred; he recovered after being artificially warmed. Administration of prednisolone and natural interferon-alpha for three months resulted in significant decreases in the levels of serum IgM and cryocrit.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.
S
S
Iguchi
K
K
Toba
I
I
Fuse
Y
Y
Wada
S
S
Maruyama
M
M
Takahashi
T
T
Koike
M
M
Nomoto
A
A
Shibata
Y
Y
Aizawa
D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014783:Viscosity
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011239:Prednisolone