[A successful case of thoracic aortic aneurysm with mixed cryoglobulinemia]

Cold-reactive proteins, such as cold agglutinins, cryoglobulins, and cryofibrinogens, are reversibly precipitates, or gel, upon exposure to cold temperatures. Cryoglobulins are usually not of importance, but under special conditions, such as surgical hypothermia, hyperviscosity and damage in microcirculation may occur in patients with high plasma concentration of cryoglobulins. Several groups have reported their efforts to reduce further the risks of surgical hypothermia in patients with cold agglutinins, but rarely in patients with cryoglobulins. A 57-year-old woman with thoracic aneurysm, requiring replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch, had mixed cryoglobulinemia (cryocrit 29%) associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Steroids therapy and preoperative plasmapheresis were performed, and cryocrit levels were decreased until 0% before operation. Systemic hypothermia (25 degrees C), hemodilution techniques during cardiopulmonary bypass, and cold crystalloid cardioplegia were successfully employed, and no clinical evidence of microcirculation damage was posed after operation.