Questions about cold sensitivity helped doctors suspect cold agglutinin disease (CAD) as a possible cause of severe anemia, fatigue, and shortness of breath in a 93-year-old woman with heart disease, a case report suggests. “Probable CAD was initially obscured by [heart disease, blood thinner use, and possible bleeding] and…
Discussion
When I was in middle school, a book I read had the following advice: “In order to have a good time at the party, I try to help others have a good time.” Decades later, I had forgotten that advice as I sank into the emotional abyss of cold…
Discussion
Enjaymo (sutimlimab) rapidly stopped hemolysis — destruction of red blood cells — while anti-cancer treatment targeted the underlying blood cancer believed to be driving secondary cold agglutinin disease (CAD) in a 61-year-old woman. This case “adds to the growing evidence that using short-term [Enjaymo] for [secondary CAD] as…
Discussion
It was touch and go on Sunday about whether I would make it to church. My sleep patterns have been less than consistent, with severe insomnia keeping me awake nights, so scheduling anything before noon has been challenging. But I managed to drop off to sleep early on Saturday night,…
Discussion
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…
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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