CRYOGLOBULINS IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - E XHAUSTIVE DETECTION, IMMUNOCHEMICAL FINDINGS AND CLINICAL EXPRESSION

Cryoglobulins were measured in 29 patients (24 female, age 53.8 +/- 9. 8 years) with rheumatoid arthritis (70% active). The cryoprecipitate w as isolated, characterized and quantified. Cryoglobulinemia, always po lyclonal or type III, was found in 83% of patients The most frequent i mmunochemical isotypes found were IgG and A. Acrocyanosis was found in 50% and Raynaud phenomenon in 32% of patients with cryoglobulinemia. It is concluded that exhaustive detection of cryoglobulinemia in rheum atoid arthritis demonstrated a higher frequency than previously report ed an is important for understanding pathogenesis of the disease.