| > | | | | autoimmune hemolytic anemia are caused by cool |
| Cold Agglutinin Disease, a rare blood disorder, is a | | | | agglutinins only. Symptoms of this disorder may |
| type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Cold agglutinin | | | | include tiredness; anemia caused by reduced levels of |
| disease, also called cold antibody disease. Cold | | | | circulating crimson blood cells; jaundice characterized |
| agglutinin disease (CAD) usually develops as a result | | | | by relentless yellowing of the rind, mucous |
| of the production of a specific IgM antibody directed | | | | membranes and whites of the eyes; and/or |
| against the I/i antigens (precursors of the ABH and | | | | perspiration and coolness of the fingers and/or toes |
| Lewis blood group substances) on RBCs. | | | | and spotty bluish or crimson discoloration of the rind |
| It is caused by the body mistakenly making | | | | of the fingers toes, ankles, and wrists. Cold |
| antibodies (of the IgM type) against a component of | | | | agglutinins are seen in CANOMAD syndrome. |
| red blood cells. Cold agglutinin disease is classified as | | | | CANOMAD syndrome is described by gait and |
| primary or secondary. Primary cold agglutinin disease | | | | upper-limb ataxia. |
| is usually associated with monoclonal cold-reacting | | | | Cranial nerve involvement with external |
| autoantibodies. | | | | ophthalmoplegia. More than 80% of patients have |
| Cold agglutinin disease occurs in the pediatric | | | | evidence of hepatitis C infection. Interferon and |
| population but is more frequent in the elderly | | | | interferon plus ribavirin have been shown to produce |
| population.Primary cold agglutinin disease is chronic and | | | | serologic responses. Conventional medical treatments |
| occurs after the fifth decade of life, with a peak | | | | may help relieve the symptoms of cold agglutinin |
| incidence at approximately age 70 years. Secondary | | | | disease. When vasculitis is active, corticosteroids are |
| cold agglutinin disease may be associated with either | | | | often required to permit healing of ulcers in the skin |
| monoclonal or polyclonal cold-reacting autoantibodies. | | | | or to treat the membranoproliferative |
| Secondary cold agglutinin disease is predominantly | | | | glomerulonephritis that is seen, thereby preventing |
| caused by infection. Secondary cold agglutinin disease | | | | loss of renal function. Rituximab therapy has been |
| in children and young adults is usually transient and is | | | | found to be effective in mixed cryoglobulinemia, with |
| caused by infection. Secondary cold agglutinin disease | | | | decreases in cryoglobulin values and improvement in |
| primarily occurs in children and young adults. | | | | complement values. |
| Overall, roughly 7-25 percentage of cases of | | | | |