Search

Cryoglobulins are serum immunoglobulins (immunocomplexes) that precipitate in the cold and redissolve on warming. Cryoglobulins from patients with several diseases showed the presence of antiDNA antibodies when previously underwent incubation in acid buffer. The possibility that antiDNA antibodies might constitute the immunocomplexes found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and with other connective tissue diseases is suggested. Negative findings in relation to the presence of antiDNA antibodies in cryoglobulins of a case with sicca syndrome are reported.

In 82 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the correlations between the histopathologic bone marrow patterns (interstitial, nodular, mixed, and diffuse), serum immunoglobulin (Ig), and blood B-lymphocyte levels and T-lymphocyte levels have been analyzed. The most commonly lowered Ig class was IgM (43% of cases) followed by IgA (35%), and IgG (10%). There was a trend to a more frequent decrease of Ig levels when "advanced" bone marrow patterns (mixed + diffuse) were compared with the earlier ones (interstitial + nodular). The frequency of such a decrease was statistically significant for IgA class (P less than 0.01). The absolute number of blood T-lymphocytes was increased in the diffuse pattern (P less than 0.01).

Circulating immune complexes (IC) in 52 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seropositive, 25 RA seronegative and 32 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were assayed by two methods: 1) precipitation with a final 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration with immunoglobulins (Igs) quantitation in the precipitate and 2) the ability of IC to consume complement, evaluating conversion products from human C3 by bidimensional rocket immunoelectrophoresis. CH50, C3, C4, C3PA and circulating C3 conversion products were quantitated. IC precipitates with 2% PEG contained three classes of Igs: IgG, IgM and IgA, the latter being the most rare. In the control group Igs level precipitated with 2% PEG were: 2% PEG-IgG 2.5 mg/100 ml +/- 2; 2% PEG-IgM 0.72 mg/100 ml +/- 1.09; 2% PEG-IgA 0.04 mg/100 ml +/- 0.18. With 2% PEG IC-like material was detected in 58.5% of RA seropositive patients but none generated C3 conversion products. With neither methods was IC-like material detected in the RA seronegative group and none with 2% PEG in AS, either. However, in the latter, 21.8% generated C3 conversion products and 18.7% circulating C3 conversión products. In the RA seropositive patients no correlation was observed between the levels of 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM and the titre of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) nor between 2% PEG-IgG and that of IgG in serum. However, there was a low correlation between 2% PEG-IgM and that of IgM in serum and between 2% PEG-IgG and 2% PEG-IgM with rheumatoid factor (RF). It should be stressed that the value of the PEG method in the detection of IC-like material must be reconsidered, since using a 2% final concentration and a specific evaluation of Igs and complement components in the precipitate, it may be a method easy to perform and useful for clinical purposes.

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins characterized by precipitating when serum is cooled and redissolving when serum is heated. There is strong evidence to consider mixed cryoglobulins as circulating immunocomplexes, and various investigators have applied the precipitating physical property as a method to isolate immunocomplexes. In the recent years some authors have reported the presence of cryoglobulins in acute and chronic liver diseases of diverse etiology. This study investigates the presence of cryoglobulins in 34 patients with different liver diseases. Mixed cryoglobulins were detected in eight patients (23.5 percent), but only three of them had clinical symptoms attributable to the existence of cryoglobulins. In relation to the etiology of the liver disease, the highest frequency has been found among patients with hepatopathies of undetermined origin.

Cryoglobulins are serum immunoglobulins which precipitate in the cold and redissolve on warming at 37 degrees C. According to its immunochemical composition three different types have been described. Cryoglobulins have been reported associated with hematologic disorders, systemic diseases, infectious conditions, and diseases of the liver and kidneys. There is also an idiopathic variant called essential cryoglobulinemia. Five patients (four males) with mixed essential cryoglobulinemia are reported. Common clinical manifestations included fever, articular symptoms, purpura, glomerulonephritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, erythematomacular cutaneous eruption, polyneuritis and abdominal pain. Serum activity of rheumatoid factor has been detected in three cases; in other three decreased levels of serum complement have been found. Serum HBsAg was negative in four cases (passive hemagglutination technique). It is possible that all cases of mixed essential cryoglobulinemia may correspond to bacterial, viral or fungal occult infections.