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Morphological changes in peripheral blood of patients with type I and type II cryoglobulinemia

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To reveal the clinical diagnostic value of peripheral blood morphological examination by observing the morphological changes of peripheral blood in patients with type I and type II cryoglobulinemia. Methods: This study included 11 patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital who showed cryoglobulin crystal changes in peripheral blood morphology. Of these, 6 cases were diagnosed by electrophoresis as type I cryoglobulinemia and 5 as type II cryoglobulinemia, and their morphological changes were comprehensively summarized. Results: Morphological examination of samples containing cryoglobulin crystals revealed the following findings: (1) In type I cryoglobulinemia, erythrocytes were observed encircling the cryoglobulin crystals, whereas in type II cryoglobulinemia, erythrocytes typically did not encircle the crystals unless cryoglobulin levels reached a specific threshold. (2) The morphology of the cryoglobulin crystals varied with time and temperature. (3) Under the microscope, cryoglobulin crystals in type I cryoglobulinemia appeared pale pink, whereas in type II cryoglobulinemia they were light gray and very faint, making them difficult to observe; imaging systems or automated scanners were therefore needed for better visualization. Conclusion: Compared with normal blood smears, cryoglobulin crystals exhibited significant morphological changes. The use of wet blood smears, low-power lenses, and oil-immersion lenses can reveal diverse morphological features that may vary with time and temperature. Therefore, timely attention to peripheral blood morphological changes plays a crucial role in clinical laboratory testing.
DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2026.e00560
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,140
OpenAlex ID: W7214763567
FWCI:
Cites: 12
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Related to: 10