Cryofibrinogenemia: incidence, clinical correlations, and a review of the literature.

Abstract

Cryofibrinogens are fibrinogen complexes which precipitate at 4 C. Cryofibrinogenemia is present in 3.4% of oxalated blood samples submitted to the hospital clinical laboratory for complete blood counts. Individuals with cryofibrinogenemia are more likely to have diabetes mellitus than is a random hospital patient. Patients with cryofibrinogenemia are four to five times more likely to have invasive cancer, or a severe thromboembolic episode, or to die, than is a random hospital patient. Patients with cryofibrinogenemia have hyperfibrinogenemia and elevated levels of alpha-1-anti trypsin.