Cryoglobulinemia manifested by gangraene of almost all fingers and toes

Int Angiol. 2010 Dec;29(6):560-4.

Abstract

Cryoglobulinemia is a rather rare condition accompanying quite a broad spectrum of different states and diseases. Mixed or polyclonal cryoglobulins can be seen in patients with autoimmune disorders, chronic infections and lymphoproliferative disorders. Monoclonal cryoglobulins are often revealed in patients with multiple myeloma or Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Cryoglobulinemia is in most cases asymptomatic. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is an immune complex-mediated systemic disorder involving mostly small, but sometimes also larger vessels. In this report, we describe a case of a patient presented with gangrene of almost all fingers and toes, who was finally diagnosed and treated as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis due to multiple myeloma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Autopsy
  • Biopsy
  • Cryoglobulinemia / diagnosis
  • Cryoglobulinemia / etiology*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / pathology
  • Cryoglobulinemia / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fingers / blood supply*
  • Fingers / pathology
  • Fingers / surgery
  • Gangrene
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications*
  • Multiple Myeloma / diagnosis
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy
  • Toes / blood supply*
  • Toes / pathology
  • Toes / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / diagnosis
  • Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / etiology*
  • Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / pathology
  • Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / therapy
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Vasodilator Agents