Treatment:

Treatment of mild or moderate cryoglobulinemia depends on the underlying cause. Treating the cause will often treat the cryoglobulinemia.

Mild cases can be treated by avoiding cold temperatures.

For patients with hepatitis C and mild or moderate cryoglobulinemia, the standard hepatitis C treatment (interferon-alpha, with or without ribavirin) is often sufficient. However, the condition can return when treatment stops.

Severe cryoglobulinemia, one that involves vital organs or large areas of skin, is treated with corticosteroids and medications that suppresses the immune system. Treatment may also involve plasma cleaning (plasmapheresis).

Treatment with the medication rituximab (Rituxan) is currently under investigation for severe cryoglobulinemia.

Expectations (prognosis):

Cryoglobulinemia is not usually deadly. However, if the kidneys are affected, the outlook is poor.

Complications:

Complications include:

• Bleeding in the digestive tract (rare)
• Heart disease (rare)
• Infections of ulcers
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• Skin death
• Death

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

• You develop symptoms of cryoglobulinemia
• You have hepatitis C and develop symptoms of cryoglobulinemia
• You have cryoglobulinemia and develop new or worsening symptoms