Causes of death in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia

Ninety-three patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia have been followed for more than 5 years in 75% of cases; 21 patients died during this period and the mean age at death was 54 years. The most common cause of death was renal failure. The percentages of patients who survived after 5 and 10 years from the diagnosis were 87 and 74%, respectively. The cryoglobulin type seems to be an important prognostic factor: in our population the type II/III ratio is 6/7 at diagnosis, while it becomes 2/1 when the patients who died are considered.