Cryoglobulinemia was studied in human immunodeficiency virus-positive, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients in relation to their CD4 cell count. Cryoglobulinemia was found in 18 (31.6%) of 57 patients: 17 (44.7%) of 38 patients with a CD4 cell count of >or=200 cells/ micro L versus 1 (5.3%) of 19 patients with a CD4 cell count of <200 cells/ micro L (P=.0064). Cell-mediated immunity could,...

Many forms of glomerulonephritis are triggered by Ab localization in the glomerulus, but the mechanisms by which this induces glomerular inflammation are not fully understood. In this study we investigated the role of complement in a mouse model of cryoglobulin-induced immune complex glomerulonephritis. Several complement-deficient mice on a C57BL/6 and BALB/c genetic background were used and c...

Infections and/or immune-mediated reactions may occur after intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin for the treatment of bladder carcinoma. We report herein a cryoglobulinemia vasculitis occurring after intravesical BCG instillation for a superficial papillary transitional cell bladder carcinoma. The patient, an 80-year-old man, presented peripheral ischemia 10 days after the seco...

We studied a 14 year-old boy with partial DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), status post complete repair of Tetralogy of Fallot, who developed antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and type III mixed cryoglobulinemia. He presented with recurrent fever and dyspnea upon exertion secondary to right pulmonary embolus on chest computed tomography (CT). Coagulation studies revealed homozygous methylene tetrahydrofol...

Imatinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks the activity of c-Abl, c-Kit, and PDGF receptors. We tested the protective effects of imatinib in thymic stromal lymphopoietin transgenic mice, a model of cryoglobulinemia and associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), in which some glomerular manifestations likely result from PDGF receptor activation. Surprising, adm...

INTRODUCTION Systemic B-cell depletion and clinical remission of the systemic effects of cryoglobulins have already been achieved using rituximab in hepatitis C virus-positive immunocompetent patients. Conversely, to the best of our knowledge there are no reports in the literature regarding the use of rituximab in hepatitis B virus-associated cryoglobulinemia. CASE PRESENTATION We report here...

BACKGROUND The hepatitis C virus is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C include mixed cryoglobulinemia which can result in ischemic damage to multiple organs. The management of these sequelae in posthepatectomy patients is unclear. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old male with hepatitis C was found to have a 4 cm hepatocellular carcinoma on surveillance...

Cryoglobulinemia refers to the presence of circulating cryoglobulins in the serum which may lead to organ damage and systemic response characterized by fatigue, arthralgias, purpura, glomerulonephritis and neuropathy. The disease mainly affects small and medium-sized blood vessels and causes vasculitis due to cryoglobulin-containing immune complexes. Mixed cryoglobulinemia (type I and II) are m...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be associated with extra-hepatic illness including mixed cryoglobulinemia. Evidence on HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia in the non-transplantation setting exists even if its appropriate management remains unclear. The cornerstone of treatment for symptomatic HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia is antiviral therapy but little is known about its activity....

We report a rare case of essential mixed cryoglobulinemia type II with membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type I in which HCV was not found. Long-term history of palindromic rheumatism, skin leukocytoclastic vasculitis attacks and micro-normocytic anemia preceded the appearance of cryoglobulinemia. Cryoprecipitate consisted of monoclonal IgMk-RF and polyclonal IgG (essential mixed...