Cryocrystalglobulinemia as a cause of systemic vasculopathy and widespread erosive arthropathy

This report describes the case of woman who was admitted to the hospital for highly destructive axial and peripheral arthropathy in association with acute malignant hypertension and skin purpura. Type I IgGkappa serum cryoglobulinemia was identified and was classified as a monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. Cryoglobulin was shown to crystallize in the serum and synovium fluid and was responsible for both granulomatous microcrystalline synovial inflammation and occlusive vasculopathy in the kidneys and skin. Cryocrystalglobulinemia pathogenicity and therapeutic implications are discussed.