News

Epstein–Barr virus is cause of boy’s complicated secondary CAD

A young boy in Portugal developed cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and an inflammatory condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) secondary to an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, which can cause infectious mononucleosis, or mono. The boy recovered fully after being treated with corticosteroids, a type of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medication,…

Genetic variants in cytokine genes linked to CAD in new study

Certain variations in genes that encode cytokines — signaling molecules involved in immune responses — may predispose people toward the development of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), a new study suggests. The study, “Cytokine polymorphisms in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia,” was published in Frontiers in…

Despite AIHA alloantibodies, transfusions generally safe, effective

Nearly 20% of people with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), including cold agglutinin disease (CAD), who required blood transfusions developed antibodies against proteins in donor blood that could compromise a transfusion’s safety or effectiveness, a study shows. These antibodies, called alloantibodies, were associated with a higher transfusion burden, lower…

Erythropoietin effective for anemia in CAD patients: Study in Italy

Treatment with erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production, safely increases hemoglobin levels in adults with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and other autoimmune hemolytic anemias (AIHAs), according to a single-center study in Italy. Data show the treatment was effective in patients with abnormally low levels…

ANX1502 found safe in Phase 1 trial with healthy volunteers

Twice-daily dosing of ANX1502, Annexon Biosciences’ experimental oral therapy for autoimmune conditions such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD), reached the desired levels in the blood of healthy volunteers who took part in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Taken by mouth as a liquid suspension, ANX1502 was well tolerated,…

Real-world analysis examines rituximab use in CAD

Treatment with rituximab led to improvements in biomarkers of red blood cell destruction among people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), but the  improvements often were short-lived and reversible, according to a real-world analysis in the U.S. The therapy, which often is used off-label for the rare autoimmune disease, also…