Advances in cryoglobulinemic nephropathy

Cryoglobulinemic nephropathy （CN） is renal injury resulting from deposition of cryoglobulins. Cryoglobulins are abnormal circulating immunoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures below 37 °C and redissolve on warming； the presence of these proteins in the circulation is termed cryoglobulinemia （CG）. CG is classified into three types according to the immunoglobulin composition of the cryoglobulins. Types Ⅱ and Ⅲ are collectively known as mixed cryoglobulinemia （MC）. Renal involvement occurs in approximately one-third of patients with MC； type Ⅰ CG may also involve the kidney. The presence of renal disease typically portends a worse prognosis. This review summarizes recent progress in the etiology， pathogenesis， clinical presentation， diagnosis， and treatment of CN.