ESSENTIAL CRYOFIBRINOGENEMIA, LEUKOCYTOCLASTIC VASCULITIS AND CHRONICPURPURA

Cryofibrinogenaemia refers to the presence of cold-precipitable protei ns in plasma but not in serum. It is usually associated with malignanc y, tromboembolic diseases or various inflammatory processes; rarely it may be essential. The most common clinical presentations of cryofibri nogenaemia are cold-intolerance, purpura, skin necrosis and ulcers. We describe a middle-aged woman with essential cryofibrinogenaemia, leuk ocytoclastic vasculitis, and chronic purpura for over 25 years with se veral exacerbations. In patients with otherwise unexplained purpura or skin necrosis, determination of plasma cryofibrinogen should be consi dered.