Background: Cryoglobulinemia is defined as the presence of an abnormal immunoglobulin that may be responsible for vasculitis of small-caliber vessels. Apheresis can be used in order to temporarily eliminate circulating cryoglobulins. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of apheresis (double-filtration plasmapheresis-DFPP-) in symptomatic and/or severe cryoglobulinemias.
Methods: Four male patients presenting cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and who received DFPP sessions were included.
Results: Their mean age was 57 ± 15 years. One patient had hepatitis-C virus (HCV)-related cryoglobulinemia and the other three patients were carriers of an IgM Kappa monoclonal gammopathy. Mean duration of follow-up was 15 ± 2 months. DFPP allowed healing of ulcerative skin lesions in the first patient and remission of nephrotic syndrome in the other patients after a median of 6(5-10) sessions.
Conclusion: DFPP can be used safely in cryoglobulinemic-vasculitis and can be considered early to achieve a faster and sustained clinical-biological response.
Keywords: Waldenström disease; chronic hepatitis C; cryoglobulinemia; double-filtration plasmapheresis; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis; rituximab.
© 2022 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.