Crystalcryoglobulinemia as a manifestation of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Crystalcryoglobulinemia refers to the extracellular deposition of crystals in the systemic vasculature, leading to vascular injury, thrombosis, and occlusion. This entity is usually described as a complication of multiple myeloma, although it can also occur in the setting of a monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance. Synchronous presentation of a monoclonal gammopathy and renal cell carcinoma is rare. Hypothetically, as both neoplasms’ growth depends on certain cytokines such as interleukin-6, it is possible that cytokine production from one neoplasm may stimulate the growth of the other. In this report, we describe a case of crystalcryoglobulinemia in a patient with a monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance and concomitant renal cell carcinoma. Additionally, we performed a systematic review of the literature and analyzed data of 61 reported cases of crystalcryoglobulinemia and of 40 reported cases describing the association between multiple myeloma and renal cell carcinoma.