Cryoglobulinemia

Cryoglobulinemia is a condition in which cryoglobulins are present in the blood. Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that spontaneously precipitate at temperatures below 37°C and redissolve upon warming. There are three types of cryoglobulinemia: Type I consists of only one type of monoclonal immunoglobulin, most commonly IgM, followed by IgG and IgA, which readily form flocculent precipitates in the cold. Type II is a mixed type containing one monoclonal immunoglobulin, with the IgM-IgG type being the most common. Type III is a mixed type of polyclonal cryoglobulins.