Do cryoglobulins cause damage to other organ systems?
Absolutely! The circulation and deposition of type II cryoglobulins leads to inflammatory damage in the vascular system throughout the body, which is characterized by medium-sized vessel vasculitis.
Specifically, these patients develop lower extremity skin lesions (palpable purpura); cerebral/cardiac/pulmonary/peripheral nerve infarction; and a constant inflammatory state characterized by failure to thrive, malaise, and myalgias.
HCV-related kidney disease may appear as the only systemic manifestation of type II cryoglobulinemia, but more often appears in the context of systemic disease.
Once diagnosed with MPGN, a patient with HCV should undergo a careful screening for systemic complications of vasculitis.
