title: Analysis and general classification of serum cryoglobulins by capillary zone electrophoresis.
abstract: The analysis and general classification of serum cryoglobulins (CG) by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) are described. This technique allowed the introduction of several new aspects to the analysis of CG: (i) direct detection of monoclonality of the gamma-globulins and general classification of the different CG types, (ii) a tenfold decrease in sample size, (iii) direct quantification of the cryoprecipitate without the need for further chemical analysis, and (iv) mathematical correction for the coprecipitation to avoid extensive washing steps or falsely elevated results. In addition to that, since staining steps are avoided, the method is rapid and easy to perform. The method has the limitation of not being able to perform immunological characterization directly of the CG. One hundred and ninety-eight samples were analyzed by this technique. Many of the cryoprecipitates have a higher ratio of gamma-globulins/albumin when analyzed by CZE compared to analysis by agarose electrophoresis. Clinical examples are presented to illustrate the advantages of this method for the analysis of serum cryoglobulins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Z K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Shihabi
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003450:Cryoglobulins