What is Cryofibrinogen?

What is Cryofibrinogen?

Cryofibrinogen is an abnormal protein that forms precipitate only in plasma. Cryofibrinogenaemia (CF) can be detected both in healthy persons and patients with autoimmune diseases, cancer and infections.

Is cryoglobulinemia an autoimmune disease?

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is believed to be an immune-mediated disorder (in which the immune system response to chronic infection causes damage to various tissues) or an autoimmune disorder (in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue).

What does a positive Cryoglobulin test mean?

A positive test for cryoglobulins may be seen in numerous conditions. Some examples include: Infections such as Lyme disease, infectious mononucleosis (mono), hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Kidney disease. Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren syndrome.

Is cryoglobulinemia serious?

If you have cryoglobulinemia (kry-o-glob-u-lih-NEE-me-uh), these proteins may clump together at temperatures below 98.6 F (37 C). These gelatinous protein clumps can impede your blood circulation, which can damage your skin, joints, nerves and organs — particularly your kidneys and liver.

What is cryoglobulinemia caused from?

Cryoglobulinemia is a disease caused by an abundance of a protein called cryoglobulin in the blood. Cryoglobulins are proteins found in the blood stream that clump together in colder temperatures. These clusters cause blood plasma to become very thick, which can block normal blood flow to tissue and organs.

When do you suspect cryoglobulinemia?

The diagnosis of a cryoglobulinemia syndrome should be suspected in patients presenting with arthralgia, purpura, skin ulcers, glomerulonephritis, and peripheral neuropathy.

What type of doctor treats cryoglobulinemia?

Your treatment team may include specialists in blood (hematologists), connective tissue and arthritis (rheumatologists), liver diseases (hepatologists), the nervous system (neurologists), the kidneys (nephrologists), and other areas as needed.

What are the causes of cryoglobulinemia?

Cryoglobulins are blood proteins that clump together in the cold and cause organ damage….What causes cryoglobulinemia?

  • Infection, particularly hepatitis C infection.
  • Blood cell abnormalities such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
  • Connective tissue disease such as lupus.