What does cryoglobulinemia feel like? People with cryoglobulinemia may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms are present, they typically include a skin rash with red spots, or a purplish discoloration from bleeding under the
What does cryoglobulinemia feel like?
People with cryoglobulinemia may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms are present, they typically include a skin rash with red spots, or a purplish discoloration from bleeding under the skin (purpura); joint or muscle pain; numbness; weakness; fatigue; and breathing difficulties, among others.
What is the best treatment for cryoglobulinemia?
The mainstay of treatment is corticosteroids with or without other medications depending on the affected organ and the extent of involvement. Another form of treatment decreases the amount of cryoglobulins in the blood.
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.
Can cryoglobulinemia be fatal?
A potentially life-threatening cryoglobulinemia was considered as the development of renal failure, vasculitic abdominal involvement, pulmonary hemorrhage, or central nervous system involvement. Results: Twenty-nine (14%) patients had life-threatening cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.
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.
How do you diagnose cryoglobulinemia?
Diagnosis of cryoglobulinemia involves a blood test in which the sample must be kept at normal body temperature, 98.6 F (37 C), for a period of time before being cooled. Inaccurate test results can occur if the blood sample isn’t handled properly.
What specialist treats cryoglobulinemia?
Can cryoglobulinemia cause neuropathy?
Cryoglobulinemia is a frequent cause of peripheral neuropathy in undiagnosed referral patients.
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).
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 does a positive Cryoglobulin test mean?
A normal test is negative for cryoglobulins. This means the antibodies in your blood stay dissolved even when the blood is chilled. If you test positive for cryoglobulins, it means these proteins became visibly sludge-like when your blood sample was refrigerated.