Definition of Cold agglutinin disease

Cold agglutinin disease: a rare disease in which the body's own immune system attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. This is a type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In cold agglutinin disease, the process takes places when the blood is exposed to cold temperatures (32 to 50 degrees F). Symptoms are therefore often related to cold temperatures and are worse during the winter months. A viral infection can also trigger the symptoms. Signs and symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue, dizziness, jaundice, pale skin, headaches, dark urine, chest pain, and vomiting or diarrhea. Cold agglutinin disease is not an inherited condition. It can occur without a known cause or may be secondary to another disease or condition.