Objective: To study the clinical and pathological features of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.
Methods: The clinical and pathologic data from 8 cases with cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, which were referred to Peking University First Hospital from 2002 to 2006, were reviewed.
Results: There were seven males and one female, with an average age of 48.6 +/- 13.6 years. Most of the patients were referred as primary glomerulonephritis and the mean interval from onset to diagnosis was 19 months. 5 cases showed positive result with blood cryoglobulin test as inferred from renal biopsy. At the time of diagnosis 5 cases (5/8) showed nephritic syndrome and 3 (3/8) progression of renal failure. Fifty percent of the patients died in 6 months during the two-year follow-up. The main pathological pattern was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (7/8) with glomerular subendothelial deposits and intraluminal thrombi. Four cases (4/8) were associated with lymphoproliferative disorders and only one case with HCV infection.
Conclusion: Cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis was not rare. Most of the patients were diagnosed at a late stage with a poor prognosis in China. It should draw a special attention of the clinicians.