title: Cryoglobulinemic purpura in visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis may present with cytopenias along with the formation of many autoantibodies and, rarely, with the presence of mixed cryoglobulinemia, type II, resembling an autoimmune disease. The syndrome of mixed cryoglobulinemia is characterized by the triad of purpura, arthralgias, and asthenia, in conjunction with cryoglobulins in the serum. In this article mixed cryoglobulinemia, type II, was diagnosed in a negative for hepatitis B or C patient suffering from visceral leishmaniasis. Antimicrobial therapy against leishmania eliminated the cryoglobulin titer, as well as the clinical manifestations of cryoglobulinemia. The role of the immune system and the type of immune response for the formation of cryoglobulins are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 451 10, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimos
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liberopoulos
authors.forename: Moses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.forename: Alexandros A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D011694:Purpura, Hyperglobulinemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008081:Liposomes; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B