title: Clinical features of 30 patients with cryoglobulinemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the clinical features of cryoglobulinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 30 patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2003 to March 2013 due to cryoglobulinemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age was(53.8±11.9)years in these 30 patients(12 men and 18 women),among whom 22 patient(73.3%)developed infectious diseases including hepatitis B(n=11)and hepatitis C(n=11);in addition,3 hepatitis B patients and 1 hepatitis C patient also had malignancies. Four patients(13.3%)were accompanied with malignant lymphocytic proliferation diseases,and three(10.0%)with connective tissue diseases. The cause of disease was unclear in 5 patients(16.7%). The clinical manifestations varied due to the primary diseases;notably,20 patients(66.7%)had an onset of purpura rash,22(73.3%)and 19(63.3%)were accompanied with hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency,respectively. The severity of renal involvement was relevant with the increase of C reactive protein,erythrocytes,sedimentation rate,and IgM and the decrease of complements. Treatment should be directed at the primary diseases. Glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants were good choices for relieving renal involvement. Elderly, type 1 cryoglobulinemia,and poor renal function were associated with the poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryoglobulinemia is mainly seen in middle and elderly patients. It can often affect multiple systems,in particular the kidney. Inflammatory markers,IgM,and complements is related with the disease severity. Age,primary disease,and renal function are related with prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hu
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Yu-Bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Ming-Xi
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Xue-Wang
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Xue-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents