Internal Medicine Shelf Exam Practice Test 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Cold agglutinin disease is a type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia that occurs when cold-reacting antibodies (typically IgM) cause the clumping of red blood cells at lower temperatures. One of the hallmark signs of this condition is jaundice, which results from the breakdown of red blood cells in the body. As red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, bilirubin, a byproduct of red cell breakdown, accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to jaundice.

While fatigue, arthralgia, and fever can be associated with various hematologic conditions or responses to anemia, they are not specific indicators of cold agglutinin disease. Fatigue is a common symptom of many anemias due to decreased oxygen delivery to tissues. Arthralgia, or joint pain, is not a direct symptom related specifically to cold agglutinin disease. Fever can indicate an underlying infection or inflammation but is not a typical symptom of this particular condition.

Thus, jaundice stands out as the most characteristic symptom associated with cold agglutinin disease, correlating directly to the underlying pathophysiology of the condition.