Viral antibodies in serum and cryoprecipitate of patients with essential mixed and secondary cryoglobulinemia preliminary results

Antibodies to measles virus, CMV, HSV1, HSV2 and EBV have been tested in 9 patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) and 24 patients with cryoglobulinemia associated with lymphoproliferative, autoimmune or hepatic diseases (secondary cryoglobulinemia, SC). The assays were performed in serum, cryoprecipitate and supernatant by using immunoenzymatic methods. The highest prevalence was observed in the supernatant of both EMC and SC patients. Antibodies to measles virus show a serum/cryoprecipitate ratio higher than that of the other viral agents. Statistically significant differences between EMC and SC patients in the positivity of the various viral antibodies were not shown. © 1986 Springer-Verlag.