Observations on Cryoglobulin Testing: II. The Association of Oligoclonal Mixed Cryoglobulinemia with Cirrhosis in Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus

Objective. To determine whether a mixed cryoglobulin type correlated with cirrhosis in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods. We investigated the results of mixed cryoglobulin tests performed in the clinical laboratory on patients with and without HCV infection. Results. A higher prevalence of oligoclonal cryoglobulins designated Type IIa was present in HCV-infected patients with cirrhosis than in those without cirrhosis. Conclusion. An association of Type IIa cryoglobulins with cirrhosis in HCV-infected patients has not previously been reported. (First Release June 15 2009; J Rheumatol 2009;36:1956-7; doi:10.3899/jrheum.090189)