DISAPPEARANCE OF CRYOGLOBULINS AND REMISSION OF SYMPTOMS IN A PATIENTWITH HCV-ASSOCIATED TYPE-II MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA AFTER HIV-1 INFECTION

Objective. We report the case of a woman with long-lasting mixed cryog lobulinemic syndrome, who experienced clinical and laboratory remissio n of her cryoglobulinemia after becoming infected with human immunodef iciency virus and developing HIV-1 induced immunosuppression. Methods. Serum cryoglobulin concentrations and the CD4+ cell count were monito red every three months. Results. After the diagnosis of HIV-1 infectio n, the immunological status of the patient was constantly depressed (C D4+ cell count dropping from 337/mu L in January 1991 to 21/mu L in Ju ne 1994). Serum cryoglobulins were persistently absent over 43 months of follow-up, despite the presence of HCV-RNA,. Conclusion. In this ca se, HIV-1 induced immunodeficiency seems to be responsible for the rem ission of the cryoglobulin syndrome and the disappearance of serum cry oglobulins. These findings indicate that CD4+ T lymphocytes may play a role in regulating the activity of cryoprecipitating rheumatoid facto r secreting B cell clones.