Cryoglobulinemia

Cryoglobulinemia is a condition that occurs when abnormal proteins in your blood called cryoglobulins thicken and clump together at cold temperatures. The condition is a type of vasculitis (inflammation of your blood vessels), which can restrict blood flow and cause damage to your skin, nerves, joints, muscles and organs — particularly your kidneys. Another name for cryoglobulinemia is cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.

Cryoglobulinemia types

Cryoglobulins are a kind of antibody. Cryoglobulinemia can be divided into three main types, depending on which kind of antibody your body produces.

Type I cryoglobulinemia is frequently associated with an underlying health condition, such as cancer of your blood or immune system.

Type II cryoglobulinemia and type III cryoglobulinemia are often seen in people with long-term (chronic) inflammatory conditions, such as autoimmune diseases. Type II cryoglobulinemia is very common in people with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Another name for types II and III cryoglobulinemia is mixed cryoglobulinemia.

How common is cryoglobulinemia?

Cryoglobulinemia is a rare condition. But researchers don’t know the exact number of cases because low levels of cryoglobulins can be present without causing symptoms. Researchers estimate that the condition affects about 1 out of every 100,000 people worldwide.