There was no bell at the cancer center in 2018 when I was first treated. The place was small and crowded. No one who finished treatment rang a bell to mark the end of their infusions. The end of my treatment was recognized with a farewell and best wishes. But…
Discussion
A 55-year-old man with severe lung disease and cold agglutinin disease (CAD) successfully underwent a lung transplant with no CAD-related complications thanks to several preventive strategies, a case study reported. To avoid complications from a drop in body temperature during surgery, which could trigger CAD-related red blood cell destruction,…
Discussion
I gave up. I bought a snack box of 12 little chocolate cake rolls. I have loved them ever since my granddad served them to us grandkids when we were at their house every Tuesday afternoon. The chocolate rolls are filled with a sweet, creamy scrumptiousness and covered with a…
Discussion
Combining a complement inhibitor with rituximab was found to rapidly control severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), including in two patients with cold agglutinin syndrome, a condition related to cold agglutinin disease. In two of the three patients in the series, the complement inhibitor Enjaymo (sutimlimab) was later…
Discussion
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Brukinsa (zanubrutinib). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. On Saturday, Andy Burcham, the radio play-by-play voice of the Auburn Tigers football team, began his broadcast by saying, “And we’re…
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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