COLD LABILE SERUM AND PLASMA-PROTEINS - C LINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC VALENCY OF CRYOGLOBULINS, CRYOFIBRINOGEN AND COLD AGGLUTININS

Cold labile serum and plasma proteins can cause a variety of clinicopa thological symptoms. Due to altered physicochemical properties, cryogl obulins and cryofibrinogens may cause increased serum viscosity, cold dependent protein precipitation or, in rare cases, serum gelification. Cold agglutinins, on the other hand, cause temperature dependent aggl utination of erythrocytes and eventually hemolysis. All pathological c old dependent serum and plasma phenomena are associated with either ne oplasma, autoimmune disorders, various infections or are considered as >>essential<<. While the diagnosis of these conditions remained large ly unchanged during the last 10 years, new aspects regarding etiology, pathogenesis, and therapy have arisen.