Condition Lookup

Start typing to search for a specific condition, or select a specialty to see all of its conditions

Sub-Category:

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias

Number of Conditions: 1

Paroxysmal Cold Hemoglobinuria (PCH)

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Hemolytic Disorders

Sub-category: Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias

Symptoms:
dark urine after cold exposure; fatigue; pallor; jaundice; fever; abdominal pain; back pain

Root Cause:
Autoimmune destruction of red blood cells triggered by cold exposure; mediated by Donath-Landsteiner antibodies.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Donath-Landsteiner test (for biphasic hemolysis), CBC with evidence of hemolysis (low hemoglobin, high reticulocytes), and urine tests for hemoglobinuria.

Treatment:
Avoidance of cold exposure, supportive care (e.g., transfusions), and immunosuppressive therapy in severe cases.

Medications:
Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone ), immunosuppressants (e.g., rituximab for refractory cases).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; primarily affects children following viral infections.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Recent viral infection, cold exposure, autoimmune predisposition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good; self-limited in post-infectious cases, but may require treatment in chronic or severe cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anemia, kidney damage due to hemoglobinuria.