Cryopathies: A Review

In recent years certain disorders associated with marked intolerance to cold have received considerable attention. There is no generally accepted terminology or classification of cold sensitivity syndromes, and furthermore, cold intolerance has not been previously considered as a clinical entity. Following exposure to cold, affected patients commonly exhibit several of the followingsigns and symptoms:cyanosis, numbness, Raynaud's phenomenon; urticaria, purpura of skin and mucous membranes; vascular occlusions resulting in visual disturbances, deafness, or pulmonary infarctions; ulceration, necrosis, gangrene; hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria; rigors and fever.²,³,⁶⁶,¹⁸⁴Seasonal exacerbations and remissions are characteristic. The termcryopathyis suggested as an all-inclusive term for these clinical conditions.¹,¹⁸⁴Presently available diagnostic and therapeutic methods make possible a reasonably precise differentiation between the various entities. The following etiologicalclassification of cryopathiesis suggested: Cryoglobulinemias Cryofibrinogenemias Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinurias: Cold agglutinin syndrome Cold hemolysin syndrome Cold intolerance in