Q and A: about health and research

Introduction Cold Agglutinin Disease is a rare autoimmune blood disorder in which cold temperatures trigger antibodies—most commonly immunoglobulin M (IgM)—to bind to red blood cells. This binding causes the cells to clump together (agglutinate) and activates the complement immune system, leading to destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). The result can be anemia, poor circulation, fatigue, and marked sensitivity to cold environments. This situation is medically interesting because you describe: Strong cold intolerance Elevated IgM levels Known inherited clotting abnormalities: Factor V Leiden von Willebrand Disease Type 2 But no confirmed diagnosis of CAD This combination does not automatically mean you have CAD , but it raises reasonable questions about whether cold-reactive antibodies, complement activation, or an immune-mediated process could be contributing to your symptoms. What Is Cold Agglutinin Disease? CAD belongs to a group of disorders called autoimmun...

Post-Polio Syndrome Revisited Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is characterized by recrudescence or worsening of motor neuron disease symptoms decades after recovery from acute paralytic poliovirus infection, i.e., poliomyelitis. PPS afflicts between 25% and 40% of poliomyelitis survivors and mimics motor neuron diseases (MNDs), such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), due to its selective impairment, degeneration, or death of motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. Herein, we report a case of PPS in a 68-year-old man with a remote history of bulbar and cervical cord involvement by poliomyelitis, review the relevant literature, and contrast the salient histopathologic features that distinguish our case of PPS from ALS. https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/15/2/35 (PDF) How do you diagnose post-polio syndrome? There are no laboratory or diagnostic tests for PPS. Physicians diagnose the condition after completing a comprehensive medical history and physical examination , and by...