Cryoglobulinemia

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate in vitro at temperatures below 37 ̊C. Cryoglobulin-associated disease is heterogeneous, as not all patients present with it, includes various syndromic presentations (vasculitis is the most common, hyperviscosity syndrome is more exceptional), and can be associated with acute clinical pictures with high mortality. Until the appearance of specific antiviral treatments, the main aetiology has been chronic HCV infection, and currently it is mainly associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, malignant neoplasms and cases with no identified aetiology (essential cryoglobulinemia). Treatment should be modulated according to the predominant etiopathogenesis (vasculitis or hyperviscosity), the severity of internal organ involvement and, especially, the associated underlying disease. Due to the complex aetiological, clinical and pathological scenario of cryoglobulinaemia, early recognition of the most common clinical presentations, a comprehensive clinical assessment of the different organs that may be affected, and multidisciplinary work led by a unit specialised in systemic autoimmune diseases is essential.