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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Cryoglobulinemia laboratory findings

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Laboratory findings for cryoglobulinemia include hypocomplementemia, increased ESR, positive RF, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and hematuria.

Laboratory Findings

Laboratory Findings

Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies

Tests for cryoglobulinemia include:[1][2]

  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Complement assay — Numbers will be low (C4 levels)
    • Variable C3 levels
  • Increased ESR
  • Cryoglobulin test — may show presence of cryoglobulins
  • Liver function tests — may be high
  • Rheumatoid factor — positive in types II and III
  • Urinalysis — may show blood in the urine if the kidneys are affected
  • At least 20cc of blood should be drawn in the fasting state (lipids interfere) and sent to the lab in warm water.
    • The blood is spun at body temperature then the serum is cooled to see if a precipitate develops.
      • “Cryocrits” of up to 50% have been noted.
    • The cryoprecipitates is then analyzed for type of immune complex by immunofixation.
    • If anti-HCV and HCV RNA are negative but hepatits C is still suspected, the cryoprecipitate can be assayed directly for HCV RNA and anti-HCV antibody.[3]
    • Spurious leukocytosis and thrombocytosis from the cryoglobulin particles have been noted if the sample is tested a lower temperature.
    • White blood cell count (WBC) of >40K normalize with warming of the blood.
References

References

  1. ↑ Gorevic PD, Kassab HJ, Levo Y, Kohn R, Meltzer M, Prose P, Franklin EC (August 1980). “Mixed cryoglobulinemia: clinical aspects and long-term follow-up of 40 patients”. Am. J. Med. 69 (2): 287–308. PMID 6996482.
  2. ↑ Trendelenburg M, Schifferli JA (January 1998). “Cryoglobulins are not essential”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 57 (1): 3–5. PMC 1752454. PMID 9536813.
  3. ↑ Zaghloul H, El-Sherbiny W (January 2010). “Detection of occult hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections from peripheral blood mononuclear cells”. Immunol. Invest. 39 (3): 284–91. doi:10.3109/08820131003605820. PMID 20380524.


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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2] Feham Tariq, MD [3]