Forest Ray PhD,  —

Forest Ray received his PhD in systems biology from Columbia University, where he developed tools to match drug side effects to other diseases. He has since worked as a journalist and science writer, covering topics from rare diseases to the intersection between environmental science and social justice. He currently lives in Long Beach, California.

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Yellow Tongue Leads to Rare CAD Diagnosis

A young boy’s bright yellow tongue led doctors to a diagnosis of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), as described in a report of this rare case. The report, “An Icteric Tongue,” was published in The New England Journal of Medicine in the series Images in Clinical Medicine.

Plasma Exchange Therapy Treats Man With CAD and COVID-19

An elderly man with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and COVID-19 was successfully treated with plasma exchange therapy and folic acid supplements. This case highlights how plasma exchange therapy can be a rapid and temporary solution to manage and stabilize CAD, its scientists wrote. The case report, “…

Case Report: Avoiding Unneeded Transfusions Key in Patient Care

Accurately diagnosing cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and managing anemia without unnecessary blood transfusions are key patient care aspects of the disorder that should be considered by physicians, a recent case study highlighted. Not giving unneeded blood can help health care providers “avert … secondary injury caused by adverse reactions…

Case Report Describes COVID-19 Triggering CAD

COVID-19 appears to have triggered cold agglutinin disease (CAD) in a woman with thalassemia, an inherited bleeding disorder that affects red blood cells. Her case was complicated by the multiple immune antibodies — alloantibodies — she had built up in response to blood transfusions. Her case was described…