What are the symptoms of cryoglobulinemia?

Cryoglobulinemia is a type of vasculitis. Vasculitis is a condition in which the blood vessels are inflamed. The inflammation of the blood vessels causes blood flow to be restricted. As a result, there is pain and tissue damage at the site of the affected organ or body part.

Cryoglobulinemia means "cold antibody in the blood." Antibodies are proteins in the blood manufactured by white blood cells. They usually help with fighting disease, but may sometimes behave incorrectly. In a patient with cryoglobulinemia, the antibodies will precipitate, or clump up, under cold conditions.

The most striking symptoms of cryoglobulinemia appear on the skin. A patient may experience palpable purpura, a raised, red-purple skin rash, on the extremities of the body (arms, legs, hands, and feet). Another symptom noted on the skin is Raynaud's phenomenon, in which fingers, toes, hands, or feet turn white when exposed to cold.