Cryoglobulinemia: dilemma for the reconstructive surgeon

Cryoglobulinemia was initially noted to occur predominantly in patients with myeloma, but it is now being detected in a growing number of infectious, collagen-vascular, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Two patients with leg ulcers due to cryoglobulinemia are presented. The reconstructive surgeon should consider cryoglobulinemia in the differential diagnosis of skin necrosis that is refractory to conventional therapy, since they may be consulted for wound management. In the vast majority of instances, the patient will be referred with a diagnosis of cryoglobulinemia having already been established. In other circumstances, patients may present to the plastic surgeon with no known history of cryoglobulinemia. The informed reconstructive surgeon can make the diagnosis on the basis of clinical findings. Combination therapy (corticosteroid, immunosuppression, and plasmapheresis) may be of use when areas of skin necrosis, typically in the form of leg ulcers, fail to heal with routine measures.