These antibodies cause your red blood cells to stick together, called agglutination.
CAD risk goes up after the age of 55 and affects both males and females.
In addition to anemia, the CBC may also reveal macrocytosis, enlarged size of red blood cells.
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There is specialty testing to look for the presence of cold agglutinins to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatments
If the anemia is mild, no specific treatment is needed.
A very important part of treatment of CAD is avoidance of cold temperatures.
This sounds simpler than it is in real life.
Additionally, drinking cold liquids or immersing body parts in cold water should be avoided.
The hope is that when your B-cells regenerate, they will no longer make the antibody.
This is typically used for patients with severe disease.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Despotovic JM, Kim TO.Cold AIHA and the best treatment strategies.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program.
