Purpura and leg ulcers in a patient with cryoglobulinaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and antiphospholipid syndrome.
We report a 69-year-old Caucasian female with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who subsequently developed leg ulcers as a manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Investigations revealed a mixed cryoglobulinaemia with monoclonal IgM-kappa and antiphospholipid activity with anticardiolipin antibodies, antimitochondrial type M5 antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. Significantly increased concentration of anticardiolipin antibodies was detected in the cryoprecipitate. Our case illustrates a connection between cryoglobulinaemia and lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders. Both cryoglobulins and anticardiolipin antibodies could participate in the vascular damage. Cutaneous manifestations in the presence of these disorders associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have not been described previously.
Andrejevic
S
S
Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Clinical Center, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. sgio@eunet.yu
Bonaci-Nikolic
B
B
Bukilica
M
M
Milivojevic
G
G
Basanovic
J
J
Nikolic
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology*; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications