Cryoglobulinemia complicated by diffuse alveolar haemorrhage

Objective: This case report describes a 58-year old man with respiratory insufficiency caused by a systemic immune complex vasculitis. A brief review of the literature is given. Patient/Subject: A 58-year old man presented with respiratory insufficiency caused by a systemic immune-complex vasculitis. His symptoms were haemoptysis due to alveolar haemorrhage, a leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the skin and glomerulonephritis. He was diagnosed with cryoglobulinemia and was successfully treated with prednisone and rituximab. Conclusion: Cryoglobulinemia should be considered in small vessel vasculitis. Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage is a rare complication of type 2 cryoglobulinemia.