Appropriate cryoglobulin investigations

Artefacts associated with a cryoglobulin.

A 70 year old man is described in whom the presence of a cryoglobulin caused a number of unusual laboratory features which were not recognized as being due to a cryoglobulin initially. Pseudoleucocytosis has been recognized in the past. However, the intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies have only rarely been described. The curious appearance of the ESR has not previously been described.

[Immunological studies on cryoglobulin].

Plasmapheresis With Return of Cryoglobulin - Depleted Autologous

Three patients with cryoglobulinemia have been treated with automated plasma exchange procedures in which the replacement fluid was autologous plasma. obtained at a previous plasmapheresis and incubated in the cold to precipitate abnormal protein. All three responded with a reduction in cryoglobulin level and an improvement in clinical manifestations of cryoglobulinemia. The cost of treatment w...

Cryoglobulin deposits on a blood smear.

A 61-year-old male presented with 2 months of bone pain. Complete blood count showed Hb 10 g/dL, white blood cell count 4.5 109/L, and platelets 130 109/L. The peripheral smear contained visible agglutinates and a blue background color (panel A). Aggregates of amorphous particles mimicking lysed cells were observed microscopically (panels C-E) with smaller and less stained deposits (panel E arr...

Appropriate design of biochemistry request cards can promote the use of protocols and reduce unnecessary investigations.

Attempts to control laboratory workload in the past always proved to be short-lived. We designed a request card based on clinical conditions for a gynaecology out-patient clinic to help clinical staff to adhere to agreed investigation protocols. Each request card had a tick-box associated with a clinical condition. The tests performed for each condition were advertised on a poster in the clinic...