Non-hepatitis-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia with polyclonal plasma cells disease and alcoholic cirrhosis: A rare case report

Abstract

Mixed cryoglobulinemia refers to the serum presence of a variety of cryoglobulins, which are defined as immunoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures of < 37°C. The most common cause of mixed cryoglobulinemia is hepatitis C virus (HCV), while other infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV infections, and lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders have also been associated with the disease. We reported a rare case of type II-III mixed cryoglobulinemia caused by alcoholic cirrhosis. We need to increase the awareness of and facilitate the early identification of mixed cryoglobulinemia in our clinical study when encountering a patient with liver cirrhosis combined with renal impairment so that treatment can begin early to improve the success rate of therapy and reduce the fatality rate in a potentially life-saving therapy.

Keywords: alcoholic liver cirrhosis; cryoglobulins; mixed cryoglobulinemia; polyclonal plasma cells disease; renal impairment.