May

11

2022

Cold Agglutinin Disease

By William Aird

Low power view of a peripheral smear from a patient with cold agglutin disease shows typical appearance of red cell agglutination (10x).
This blood film from a patient with cold agglutin disease shows typical appearance of red cell agglutination consisting of clumps of red cells, which have lost their central pallor owing to the effect of overlapping cytoplasm. Agglutinated masses of red cells of variable size are noted in this view (50x, oil).

Red cell morphology in cold AIHAComments
Red cell agglutination
Definition/description Clumps of red blood cells, often of equal length and width, in contrast to linear array of red cells in rouleaux formation.
Also known asAutoagglutination, clumping
Mechanism of formationUsually caused be reactivity with anti-erythrocyte IgM antibodies called cold agglutinins.
HistoryIn 1955, John Dacie described autohaemagglutination of red cells in the peripheral smear of a patient with “auto-immune hemolytic anaemia of the cold antibody type.” Am J Med. 1955;18:810-21.
Source/authorWilliam Aird
ReferencesHematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2016;2016(1):226-231.
AIHA, autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Stay Updated

If you are interested in getting the latest articles from The Blood Project, enter your name and email

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.