Nearly half of people without symptoms of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) who undergo a lung transplant test positive for cold agglutinins, the self-reactive antibodies that drive the rare autoimmune condition by targeting red blood cells at low temperatures. That’s according to new data from the first study of its kind…
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It was a rare Saturday morning with nothing on the schedule, so my husband, Mike, and I could sleep in. Except that I’ve forgotten — temporarily, I hope — how to sleep late. I awoke close to the usual time. Since it wasn’t raining, I thought I’d get some light…
A 12-year-old girl in Italy developed cold agglutinin disease (CAD) as a result of an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, a case study reported. Treatment with the corticosteroid methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) progressively led to complete resolution of her CAD symptoms.
Grabbing the best spot in front of the TV, I make myself comfortable on pillows. It’s time for the Kentucky Derby. The first Saturday in May is reserved for me to enter a world of majestic horses, excitement, and mint juleps. In the week leading up to the derby, I…
An 83-year-old man with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) underwent surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm — a bulging in the lower part of the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel — without major complications thanks to several preventive strategies, a study reported. To avoid complications from cold-induced hemolysis, or…
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
CAD is characterized by autoantibodies, called cold agglutinins, binding to and activating the destruction of red blood cells when exposed to cold temperatures.
Symptoms of CAD include fatigue, Raynaud’s syndrome, joint pain, jaundice or skin discoloration, and heart problems. These symptoms can worsen with more cold exposure.
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