Cutaneous microvascular disturbances due to cold agglutinins (Q104325): Difference between revisions

Cold agglutinins are monoclonal or polyclonal IgM immunoglobulins which are able to agglutinate red blood cells at below normal body temperatures. Monoclonal cold agglutinins may be idiopathic or secondary to malignant lymphoproliferative diseases. Polyclonal cold agglutinins are usually associated with infection, especially Mycoplasma pneumoniae but also hepatitis C virus, parvovirus B19 or leptospiral infection. Although cold agglutinins are usually asymptomatic they may be responsible for acrocyanosis, Raynaud phenomenon, livedo reticularis, cold urticaria and, rarely, cutaneous necrosis.