Author Archives: Forest Ray PhD

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.

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, “…

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…

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…

Sutimlimab continues to lessen the need for blood transfusions, prevent red blood cell destruction, ease fatigue, and limit inflammation in patients with primary cold agglutinin disease (CAD), according to data from two Phase 3 trials. These findings will be presented by Sanofi, the investigational therapy’s developer, at…

Daratumumab eased circulatory symptoms and anemia without causing adverse side effects in a 59-year-old man with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), a recent medical case study reported. The antibody-based medication, normally used to treat myeloma, may offer an alternative to CAD patients who fail to respond to other therapies,…

The two COVID-19 vaccines that recently received emergency approval from the U.S. and other worldwide regulatory agencies are expected to pose little risk to the rare disease community, including to patients with compromised immune systems or those participating in gene therapy studies. That was the message of a recent…

Apellis Pharmaceuticals and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) are collaborating to advance the development of systemic pegcetacoplan, or APL-2, in the treatment of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and other disorders, the companies announced in a press release. Pegcetacoplan is an investigational therapy designed to limit activation of…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) seems to be the least common form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in India, affecting about 15% of patients with the rare disorder, a study has found. The study, “Immunohematological work‐up, severity analysis and transfusion support in autoimmune hemolytic anemia patients,”…

Same but Different, a U.K. nonprofit that uses the arts to bring communities together, is holding a calendar photography competition to raise awareness for rare diseases. Under the theme “A Glimmer of Hope,” the competition is a means to “visually express the hope that exists for people affected by…