Health Insights

In cold agglutinin disease (CAD), the body mistakenly produces antibodies against its own red blood cells. When exposed to cold temperatures, these antibodies bind to the red blood cells, attacking them as if they were a virus. This makes you hypersensitive to cold and causes chronic anemia and circulatory problems,…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare disease in which the body produces antibodies against the red blood cells. In cold temperatures, these antibodies bind to red blood cells, targeting them for destruction as if they were a virus or bacteria. Some infections themselves can cause CAD. This…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare nonhereditary disease in which the immune system produces autoantibodies called cold agglutinins. In cold temperatures, these autoantibodies bind to red blood cells, which causes them to clump together and burst. This can cause anemia, among other symptoms. There are…

Living with a chronic disease, such as cold agglutinin disease, means dealing with a number of symptoms that affect daily life. Although there are no studies specifically on mindfulness in patients with cold agglutinin disease, a study involving participants with other chronic diseases indicated that mindfulness…

Managing a rare disorder such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be challenging. Because the disease is so rare, it can be difficult, especially in emergency situations, to get the treatment you need as many healthcare professionals may be unfamiliar with the disease. Developing a treatment plan and updating…

Finding out that you have a rare and chronic disorder such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be isolating, and you may feel like no one else understands what you’re going through. It’s not uncommon for people affected by chronic illness to struggle with stress and depression. If…

Travel can be challenging for people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) because cold can trigger the immune system’s attack on red blood cells. Following are some tips to help CAD patients travel safely. Before travel Planning ahead is crucial. CAD makes you sensitive to cold, so check the temperatures and…

Splenectomy, or the surgical removal of the spleen, can be an effective treatment for some types of hemolytic anemia and other blood disorders. However, its benefits are far less clear for cold agglutinin disease (CAD). What does the spleen do? The spleen is a spongy organ, about the…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system develops antibodies against the body’s healthy red blood cells. These antibodies, called cold agglutinins, are activated in cold temperatures (below body temperature) and bind to red blood cells, causing their destruction. Why should CAD patients…

A bone marrow biopsy may be necessary to determine whether a person with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) — a rare disorder in which the immune system produces antibodies against the body’s red blood cells — has cancer. In CAD, the antibodies are triggered by drops in temperature to…