Title | [Cold agglutinins and cryoglobulinemia in a patient with hepatitis C]. | ||
Author | Ruivard, M; Tridon, A; Quainon, F; Rieu, V; Fouilhoux, A C; Dibet, P; Henquell, C; Betail, G; Philippe, P; Tissot, J D | ||
Journal | Presse Med | Publication Year/Month | 1996-Oct |
PMID | 8952663 | PMCID | -N/A- |
Affiliation | 1.Service de Medecine interne, Hotel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand. |
OBJECTIVES: Cold agglutinins and cryoglobulins are uncommon in the same patient as observed in our case. CASE REPORT: A 74-year-old patient suffered repeated episodes of hemolytic anemia for one year and had hepatitis C anti-virus antibodies. Mixed cryoglobulinemia was found at levels which increased during episodes of acute hemolysis in addition to anti-I cold agglutinins. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed identical oligoclonal cold agglutinins and cryoglobulins. DISCUSSION: Unlike mixed cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinins are not known to occur subsequent to hepatitis C infection. The identical immunoglobulins observed in our patient suggest a common origin. Chronic anti-I cold oligoclonal agglutinins are rarely observed and could be an intermediary step towards monoclonal lymphopathy as has been described in prolonged hepatitis C infection.