Summary
Plasma-exchange was used in 10 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia. The procedure was used as a primary therapeutic tool to reduce cryoglobulin levels, and in combination with prednisone and cytotoxic drugs. The results show that PE alone is detrimental, although it may be an important adjunct to conventional therapy in MCG with progressive deterioration in the clinical condition, and in those patients who do not respond to drug therapy alone. The weak response to PE in MCG may be due to many technical variables, but mainly to the low percentage of circulating cryoglobulins removed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adam C, Morel-Maroger L.: Cryoglobulins in glomerulonephritis not related to systemic disease—Kidney int.3, 334, 1973.
Berkman E. M., Orlin J. B.: Use of plasmapheresis and partial plasma exchange in the management of patients with cryoglobulinemia—Transfusion (Philad.)20, 171, 1980.
Bonomo L., Dammacco F.: Immune complex cryoglobulinemia in lepromatous leprosy— Clin. exp. Immunol.9, 175, 1971.
Geltner D., Kohn R. W., Gorevic P., Franklin E. C.: The effect of combination therapy (steroids, immunosuppressive, and plasmapheresis) on 5 mixed cryoglobulinemia patients with renal, neurologic, and vascular involvement—Arthr. and Rheum.24, 1121, 1981.
Gorevic P. D., Kassab H. J., Levo Y., Kohn R., Meltzer M., Prose P., Franklin E. C.: Mixed cryoglobulinemia: clinical aspects and long-term follow-up of 40 patients—Amer. J. Med.69, 287, 1980.
Grey M. M., Kohler P. F.: Cryoimmunoglobulins—Semin. Haemat.10, 87, 1973.
Levo Y., Gorevic P. D., Kassab H. J., Zucker-Franklin D., Gigli I., Franklin E. C.: Mixed cryoglobulinemia. An immunocomplex disease often associated with hepatitis B virus infection —Trans. Ass. Amer. Phycns40, 167, 1977.
Mancini G., Carbonara A. O., Heremans J. F.: Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion—Immunochemistry2, 235, 1965.
Marconi M., Mercuriali F., Sirchia G.: Ilplasma-exchange Edizioni Ortho Diagnostic Systems. Milano, 1981.
McIntosh R. M., Kaufman D. B., Kulvinskas C., Grossman B. J.: Cryoglobulins. I. Studies on the nature, incidence and clinical significance of serum cryoproteins in glomerulonephritis —J. Lab. clin. Med.75, 566, 1970.
McLeod B. C., Sassetti R. J.: Plasmapheresis with return of cryoglobulin-depleted autologous plasma (cryoglobulinpheresis) in cryoglobulinemia—Blood55, 866, 1980.
Meltzer M., Franklin E. C.: Cryoglobulinemia. A study of 29 patients—Amer. J. Med.40, 828, 1966.
Schena F. P., Manno C., Dimonte D., Carabellese S., Cazzato L., Paglionico N.: Plasma exchange in systemic lupus erythematosus.—J. artif. Org. (In press).
Schlansky R., DeHoratius R. J., Pincus T., Tung K. S. K.: Plasmapheresis in systemic lupus erythematosus. A cautionary note—Arthr. and Rheum.24, 49, 1981.
Verrier Jones J., Robinson M. F., Parciany R. K., Layfer L. F., McLeod B.: Therapeutic plasmapheresis in systemic lupus erythematosus—Arthr. and Rheum.24, 1113, 1981.
Wintrobe M. M., Buell M. U.: Hyperproteinemia associated with multiple myeloma. With report of a case in which an extraordinary hyperproteinemia was associated with thrombosis of the retinal veins and symptoms suggesting Raynaud's disease—Buli. Johns Hopk. Hosp.52, 156, 1933.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported in part by grant no. 82/7206-82/7207 of theMinistero della Pubblica Istruzione, Italy.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schena, F.P., Manno, C., Dimonte, D. et al. Plasma-exchange in the treatment of cryoglobulinemia. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 13, 133–140 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904753
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904753