ABOUT US

The Cold Agglutinin Disease Foundation (CADF) is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Cold Agglutinin Disease for the medical profession and patients. CADF will assist in and expedite correct diagnosis and care management of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) for those affected by the disease and is committed to creating a healthier life for the CAD community of patients. We are devoted to filling the education gap that exists for those diagnosed and for medical providers; i.e., primary care physicians, hematologists, nurses, and lab technicians.

Cold Agglutinin Disease  is a rare type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. This causes red blood cells to be prematurely destroyed (hemolysis) leading to anemia and other associated signs and symptoms such as extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and pulse, bluish skin and pain, particularly in areas exposed to the cold. CAD patients are more susceptible to blood clots, strokes, and heart issues than the average person. CAD affects both the liver and kidneys, which are having to filter the dead cells. The average age of onset is 58, though there are cases involving much younger and older people. CAD can be caused by lymphoma and cold or flu viruses, but the cause in some cases is unknown. Acquiring a CAD diagnosis is difficult because the disease is very rare and unknown by many physicians.

Cold Agglutinin Disease Foundation Chat on Facebook.com, our closed group exclusively for CAD Patients and Family, where you can directly interact with 900+ other "CADdy's" from around the world.  

PLEASE ASK TO JOIN US THERE. 

CADdy CHATTER

And please use the Contact Us page!  We would really like to hear from you!