Cold Agglutinins

A cold agglutinin test may be used to help detect cold agglutinin disease and determine the cause of a person’s hemolytic anemia. It may be used as a follow-up test after a complete blood count (CBC) shows a decrease in a person’s red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin, especially if these findings are linked to an exposure to cold temperatures.

Cold agglutinin disease is a rare autoimmune disorder in which autoantibodies produced by a person’s immune system mistakenly target and destroy RBCs, causing hemolytic anemia. These autoantibodies are cold-reacting and can cause signs and symptoms related to anemia after an affected person is exposed to cold temperatures. This disease may be classified as either primary or secondary, triggered by an infection or other condition.

This test may be ordered when a person has reactions to cold temperature exposures and has signs of hemolytic anemia that may be due to cold agglutinin disease. Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue, weakness, lack of energy, pale skin (pallor), dizziness and/or headaches from anemia
• In some cases, painful bluish fingers, toes, ears, and the tip of the nose that occur with exposure to cold temperatures

The result of a cold agglutinin test is typically reported as a titer, such as 1:64 or 1:512. A higher number means that there are more autoantibodies present.

A positive titer may mean that the person tested has cold agglutinin disease. Cold agglutinin disease may be primary or secondary, induced by some other disease or condition such as:

• Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections—up to 75% of those affected will have increased cold agglutinins.
• Mono (infectious mononucleosis)—more than 60% of those affected will have increased cold agglutinins, but anemia is rare with this infection.
• Some cancers, including lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma
• Some other bacterial infections, such as Legionnaires disease and syphilis
• Some parasitic infections, such as malaria
• Some viral infections such as HIV, influenza, CMV, EBV, hepatitis C

Higher titers of autoantibodies and those that react at warmer temperatures are associated with hemolytic anemia and worse symptoms.

The degree of red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and hemolytic anemia will vary from person to person and with each episode of cold exposure. Some conditions, such as infectious mononucleosis, are frequently associated with elevated cold agglutinins but rarely associated with anemia.

A cold agglutinin test may rarely be ordered to identify increased cold agglutinins if someone has a condition that has been linked to secondary cold agglutinin disease, such as infectious mononucleosis or a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Since the test is not specific for these conditions, it is not typically ordered to diagnose or monitor them.

This is something that your health care practitioner will need to determine. Consult with your healthcare provider on what steps can be taken to decrease cold agglutinins.

To minimize episodes of painful discolored fingers and toes, and of abnormal red blood cell destruction (hemolysis), it is important to avoid and/or limit exposure to cold temperatures. People have differing sensitivities; some may be affected by drinking or eating something cold or by taking a cold shower. You should talk to your healthcare provider about strategies to manage your condition.