title: Cryoglobulinemia in chronic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal failure patients submitted to chronic hemodialysis can present with cryoglobulinemia. There are few studies on cryoglobulins in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and to identify the components of cryoglobulins in chronic hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients on chronic hemodialysis were evaluated for the presence of cryoglobulins, after inclusion and exclusion criteria. The components of the cryoprecipitate were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryoglobulins were detected in 83% (45/54) of the patients on chronic hemodialysis. The cryoprecipitate was constituted by IgG, IgM, IgA, and complement fractions C3 and C4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that there was a high prevalence of cryoglobulins in chronic hemodialysis patients, and the cryoprecipitate was constituted by IgG, IgM, IgA, and complement fractions C3 and C4.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa Medical School and Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tainá
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Gisele Martinelli
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miorin
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malafronte
authors.forename: Yvoty Alves
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: dos Santos Sens
authors.forename: Wilma Carvalho Neves
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Forte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D055815:Young Adult