[Characterization of cryoglobulin, M protein, low molecular weight IgM in a patient with chronic hepatitis C and type II mixed cryoglobulinemia]

Rinsho Byori. 2001 Nov;49(11):1139-45.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The common extrahepatic manifestation of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection is mixed cryoglobulinemia. We have analyzed serum cryoglobulin, IgM and various antibody activities from a patient with chronic hepatitis C and type II cryoglobulinemia. Cryoprecipitates were consisted of polyclonal IgG and monoclonal IgM-kappa with rheumatoid factor activity. About 20% of total IgM was found to be low molecular weight IgM by gel-filtration and SDS-PAGE. The anti-streptolysin O(ASO) activity measured by Latex agglutination method was found to be markedly elevated despite normal activity by Rantz-Randell method. The patient's serum has revealed to react against bovine gamma globulin, which crosslinked streptolysin O to Latex particles, in a nonspecific manner. Phenotypic analysis of the surface markers on abnormal lymphoid cells from peripheral blood and bone marrow showed monoclonal expansion of B-cell lineage by flow cytometry. The patient was treated with interferon-alpha, which resulted in an improvement of liver dysfunction, decreased amounts of cryoglobulin and IgM. It was concluded that the patient has suffered from lymphoproliferative disorder, namely HCV infection-associated primary macroglobulinemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cryoglobulinemia / blood*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / etiology
  • Cryoglobulins / analysis*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin M / chemistry
  • Male
  • Myeloma Proteins / analysis
  • Streptolysins / immunology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cryoglobulins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Myeloma Proteins
  • Streptolysins
  • multiple myeloma M-proteins
  • streptolysin O