Cryoproteinemia: An immunologic phenomenon?: Electrophoretic analysis of serum proteins of a patient with cold allergy

Abstract

1. 1. The electrophoretic distribution of the serum proteins in cryoproteinemia prior to and following separation of the cryoprecipitate, and after the administration of cortisone, is analyzed and compared to normal pooled human serum. 2. 2. The electrophoretic curve of “purified” cryoprotein in saline solution is illustrated. Cryoprotein, in the case described in this study, is represented electrophoretically by a “T” component which migrates between the beta and gamma globulins. 3. 3. This component was absent after treatment with cortisone for six days. Concomitantly, no cryoprotein was obtained from the serum and the patient no longer reacted abnormally to cold. 4. 4. The similarities between cryoprotein and immune bodies are discussed. This study seems to illustrate the suppressive effects of an adrenocortical hormone on serum globulins and on a “T” component with immune body properties.