Heparin-Precipitable Cryoprecipitate in a Child With Cold Urticaria

Cold urticaria occurs occasionally in childhood and is associated at times with cryoglobulinemia, cold hemolysins, or cryofibrinogenemia. We describe here a patient who has cold urticaria associated with increased levels of heparin sodium-precipitable cryoprecipitate (HPC); to our knowledge, such a case has not been previously reported. Report of a Case .—A 10-year-old girl was first seen in November 1976 because of urticaria accompanied by arthralgia. The previously well child had an intensely pruritic eruption of the feet develop after a swimming lesson. This resolved spontaneously within eight hours. Two days later, urticaria was noted from the waist to the feet after attendance at a night football game. Subsequent long outdoor exposures induced urticaria on the trunk, face, and legs and swelling of the fingers. Occasionally, the eruptions were accompanied by pain in the hips, shoulders, and right ankle. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride therapy did not diminish the urticaria. The history was unremarkable,