The correlation between antiphospholipid syndrome and cryoglobulinemia: case series of 4 patients and review of the literature.

Background: Cryoglobulinemia is an immune-complex-mediated small vessel vasculitis that classically involves the skin, kidneys and peripheral nerves. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune hypercoagulable disorder which causes blood vessel thrombosis. It can present as a multi-organ microthrombotic disorder which is called catastrophic APS.
Objective: In this case series we aim to describe the diagnostic and management challenges that arise when these two severe disorders simultaneously present in the same patient.
Methods: We describe four patients who were admitted to our hospital due to multi-organ life threatening damage mediated by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with concurrent APS.
Results: Clinical manifestations included leg ulcers, livedo reticularis, renal failure, and peripheral neuropathy. Suggested etiologies for the combined syndromes were hepatitis C, systemic lupus erythematosus and myeloproliferative disease rectal maltoma. All of our patients were treated with anticoagulation, high-dose corticosteroids, rituximab, intravenous gammaglobulins and plasma exchange.
Conclusion: The rare association of severe or catastrophic APS with cryoglobulinemia in patients should be considered by physicians who treat patients with multi-organ ischemia or necrosis.
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