Mary Chapman, features writer —

Clinical alert items such as blood lab cards and bedside blood cards are important tools for people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD). What is CAD? CAD is a rare autoimmune disorder in which exposure to cold temperatures causes autoantibodies, or cold agglutinins, to bind tightly to red…

Learning that you have a chronic condition such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be particularly concerning if you are living alone. However, there are steps you can take to help you live well and independently. Become a self-manager With a chronic disease, you are in a different place than…

Same But Different, a nonprofit U.K. group that uses art for social change, is inviting people to choose their favorite photographs in a calendar contest to heighten awareness of rare diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The organization’s panel of judges has pared the number of contest submissions…

Patients with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) usually receive their diagnosis later in life, the median age being 76. If you have the disease, you may feel as if it struck out of the blue. Here are some things you can do to help plan for the future.

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) mainly strikes people who are elderly or middle-aged, and possibly already dealing with other health conditions. Here are ways family members can help and support a person recently diagnosed with CAD. What is CAD? CAD is a type of autoimmune hemolytic…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) occurs in only about one in 80,000 people. Due to its rarity, most physicians are unfamiliar with the disease. That could be problematic, particularly if a medical emergency such as a hemolytic flare-up or heart issue arises. Following is some information about…

While the risk for cold agglutinin disease (CAD) increases after age 55, children occasionally develop the disorder. In these cases, CAD is usually the result of infection, lasts a relatively short time, and generally requires supportive care only. What is CAD? CAD is a type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia,…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases has launched a scholarship fund in the U.S. to support individuals with rare disorders who are pursuing personal goals through training and education. The initial phase of the five-year, $1-million #RAREis Scholarship Fund will include 32 scholarships — each totaling $5,000 —…

In severe cases of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), plasmapheresis may be performed to remove autoantibodies called cold agglutinins from the blood to alleviate disease symptoms. If you will be undergoing the procedure, here’s what you can expect. What is CAD? CAD is a rare autoimmune disorder in…

The majority of people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) — between 80% to 99% — experience chronic joint pain. Here are some tips for dealing with it. What is CAD? CAD is a rare autoimmune disorder in which exposure to cold temperatures (between 32 and 50 F; 0 and…