MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cryoglobulinemia

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Cryoglobulinemia

Contents of this page:
Illustrations	Definition

Illustrations

Cryoglobulinemia - of the fingers

Cryoglobulinemia - fingers

Blood cells

Definition Return to top

Cryoglobulinemia is the presence of abnormal proteins in the bloodstream which thicken or gel on exposure to cold. These proteins may be present in Mycoplasma pneumonia, multiple myeloma, certain leukemias, primary macroglobulinemia, and some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

See test for cryoglobulins.

Update Date: 6/2/2003

Updated by: Scott Howard, M.D., M.S., Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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