[Cold agglutinins and cryoglobulinemia in a patient with hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
Cold agglutinins and cryoglobulins are uncommon in the same patient as observed in our case.


METHODS
A 74-year-old patient suffered repeated episodes of hemolytic anemia for one year and had hepatitis C anti-virus antibodies. Mixed cryoglobulinemia was found at levels which increased during episodes of acute hemolysis in addition to anti-I cold agglutinins. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed identical oligoclonal cold agglutinins and cryoglobulins.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike mixed cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinins are not known to occur subsequent to hepatitis C infection. The identical immunoglobulins observed in our patient suggest a common origin. Chronic anti-I cold oligoclonal agglutinins are rarely observed and could be an intermediary step towards monoclonal lymphopathy as has been described in prolonged hepatitis C infection.
Ruivard
M
M
Service de Médecine interne, Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand.
Tridon
A
A
Quainon
F
F
Rieu
V
V
Fouilhoux
A C
AC
Dibet
P
P
Henquell
C
C
Bétail
G
G
Philippe
P
P
Tissot
J D
JD
D000368:Aged; D000373:Agglutinins / Q000032:analysis*; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
D000373:Agglutinins; D003450:Cryoglobulins
Agglutinines froides et cryoglobulinémie chez un patient avec une hépatite C.