Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

The autoantibodies found in people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) carry high levels of sugar molecules, which may help distinguish them from those with related disorders, a study has found. The study, ““Glycosylation of Immunoglobulin Light Chains is Highly Prevalent in Cold Agglutinin Disease,” was published in…

The number of treatments for children with rare diseases has grown over the past decade, according to a new study. However, despite the increase, nearly 7,000 rare diseases are still lacking treatment. And federal incentives to boost treatment development for these rare diseases have primarily focused not on creating new…

The rare case of a man infected with the hepatitis E virus who developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia was described in a study that also highlighted the potential for underdiagnosing autoimmune complications in such infections. The study, “Unusual Presentation of Hepatitis E with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia – A Case Report,”…

The wrong blood type may be given to people with undiagnosed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), which can lead to them receiving blood transfusions from mismatched blood donors, a case report shows. This research highlights the need for rigorous lab work to determine and confirm blood type before blood…

Treatment with blood transfusions is safe and efficient for treating hospitalized autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) patients, a large observational study suggests.   This conclusion held true even when using incompatible donors and even for the one-third of patients who developed severe anemia during hospitalization, according to the study.

The Cold Agglutinin Disease Foundation is among 20 rare disease organizations receiving funding under Global Genes‘ 2020 RARE Patient Impact Grant Program. Now in its fifth year, the 2020 grant program is awarding funds totaling almost $200,000 to these organizations. The program provides funding for rare disease patient…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) patients have an increased risk of developing blood clots compared to the general population, a retrospective Danish study shows. The findings of the study, “Occurrence, thromboembolic risk, and mortality in Danish patients with cold agglutinin disease” were published recently in the journal Blood Advances. In…

Arzerra (ofatumumab) may be a promising alternative for the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in patients who also have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and develop reactions to Rituxan (rituximab), a case report suggests. The study, “Successful treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus-related refractory…

To lower the risk of meningitis infection in patients with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) treated with Soliris (eculizumab), a booster given shortly after the first vaccination may be required, a study suggests. Because patients who receive therapies that target the complement system — such as Soliris — are…

Researchers recently reported the rare case of a 69-year-old Japanese man with paroxysmal atrial fribrillation (PAF) — occasional periods of an irregular, very fast heart rate — who developed hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood) possibly due to cold agglutinin disease (CAD) after undergoing cryoballoon ablation…