BLOOD BANK: Question 2

What is the most common antibody associated with cold agglutinin disease?

ANSWER: Anti-I

NOTES:

Cold agglutinins are IgM antibodies and are often present at the start of or in the first week of clinical illness of CAD.  Most red cell cold agglutinins encountered in clinical practice show anti-I specificity.  It is also associated with of M. pneumoniae. 

SOURCE: www.sciencedirect.com