A short course of rituximab, combined with chemotherapy agents and corticosteroids, can keep primary cold agglutinin disease (CAD) under control for many years, at a lower cost and with manageable side effects, according to a study of seven patients in Japan. “Rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy elicited durable responses with an…
Discussion
As the plane rolled along the seemingly endless taxiway to the gate, I began figuring out how I would get from the airport to my house, about an hour and a half’s drive. My ride had to cancel, so I was on my own. This particular problem was part and…
A combination of chemotherapy and immune-targeting medications may provide long-lasting relief for people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), though the treatment often comes with a high risk of serious side effects, according to real-world patient data. These “immunochemotherapy” (ICT) regimens, specifically those using R-bendamustine, have shown significant success in normalizing…
The oral medication iptacopan — approved for certain blood and complement-related conditions — helped alleviate anemia in most people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) in a small Phase 2 clinical trial, according to study. The complement cascade is a component of the immune system that contributes to the hemolysis,…
Discussion
As soon as I felt the tug on my computer cord, I knew the glass would fall. My husband, Mike, and I were getting ready to head to Jayapura, Indonesia, from our home in Sentani, a distance of only 22 miles, for an appointment at the immigration office, but it…
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
CAD is characterized by autoantibodies, called cold agglutinins, binding to and activating the destruction of red blood cells when exposed to cold temperatures.
Symptoms of CAD include fatigue, Raynaud’s syndrome, joint pain, jaundice or skin discoloration, and heart problems. These symptoms can worsen with more cold exposure.
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