Paroxysmal Cold Hemoglobinuria Research Paper

Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria is a disease that occurs in the cold. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, also known as PCH, mainly affects the hands and feet. In PCH, antibodies attaching themselves to the red blood cells. This gives other proteins in the blood the opportunity to attach as well. As the groups of attachments move throughout the body to warm themselves when in the cold scenarios, the antibodies destroy the red blood cells. As the cells are destroyed, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen, hemoglobin, is released into the blood and passed in the urine. (Medline) Characterized by the premature destruction of healthy red blood cells by autoantibodies, Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria is a rare type of anemia. Thus, PCH belongs …show more content…
This conclusion was triggered by the show of 90 percent of patients with chronic PCH that had received a positive test result for syphilis and about 30 percent showed clinical evidence of the disease, syphilis. (WebMD) Towards the end of the 19th century, PCH was caused, most commonly, by syphilis, congenital or adult tertiary-stage syphilis. Once the syphilis was treated, the paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria was cured as well. Doctors did not think that there were causes other than syphilis or recurrences post the treatment of the syphilis. As time went on, the doctors discovered the manifest of PCH could be provoked and could, though rare, recur, due to multiple other factors. …show more content…
It is possible for anyone to contract PCH. It tends to be more common in children versus adults. It is approximated that 40 percent of all AHIA conditions that affect children are caused by paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. (Patient) However, in children, typically under five, it more-so occurs as acute. All together, AIHA as a group affect approximately 1-3 people per 100,000 in the general population. Thus, the PCH forms that syphilitic and nonsyphilitic are both extremely rare conditions. (NORD) However, it is more likely to occur in an individual who has a viral infection. It is not proven to be genetic, but some reports of PCH have been found to occur throughout families. (NORD) The prognosis of this disorder is on the more positive end. A victim of PCH typically experiences a fast recovery. Symptoms of this disorder do not occur between episodes of chronic paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. When the episodes do occur, attacks end promptly when the cells are done migrating through the body.