title: Comparison of cryoglobulinemia in children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is a systemic vasculitis resulting from circulating immune complex deposition in the small vessels and is characterized by variable clinical features, including purpura, Raynaud's syndrome, ulcerations, arthralgia, glomerulonephritis, and peripheral neuropathy. Cryoglobulinemia can also result from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The clinical spectrum and associated or underlying diseases of cryoglobulinemia in different age groups is not well understood. This study investigated the demographic, clinical, serologic features, and associated or underlying diseases in children and adult patients with cryoglobulinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study included 114 patients (18 children, 96 adults) who presented with cryoglobulinemia between 2000 and 2010 at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Their medical records were reviewed and serological and virologic assessments were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this group of patients, children had a significantly higher prevalence of prolonged fever (16.7% vs. 3.13%; p=0.018), arthralgia (66.67% vs. 16.67%; p<0.001), arthritis (66.67% vs. 15.63%; p<0.001) and cutaneous involvement (77.78% vs. 50%; p=0.03) compared with adults. Both the adult and children groups had a greater frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (20.8% and 5.6%, respectively), than HCV infection (12.5% and 0%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with cryoglobulinemia had a significantly higher prevalence of prolonged fever, arthralgia, arthritis and cutaneous involvement compared with adults.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Jing-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Liang-Shiou
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Yu-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuang-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shue-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Huei-Huang
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Lieh-Bang
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Kuo-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology