MRCP revision battle 55.4: Cold agglutinins

Cold agglutinins are molecules, usually IgM, which act against red cells agglutinising and haemolysing them at low temperatures.

Symptoms of cold agglutinins include:

• Raynauds
• acrocyanosis
• mild haemolytic anaemia

Causes of cold agglutinins include:

• idiopathic
• CLL
• lymphoma
• mycoplasma
• coxsachie
• mononucleosis
• HIV

Management is to avoid cold weather.



Now to diversify to neurology....