Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) - Treatment

Alternative Names

PCH

Treatment:

Treating the underlying condition can help. For example, if PCH is caused by syphilis, symptoms may get better when the syphilis is treated.

In some cases, medicines that suppress the immune system are used.

Expectations (prognosis):

Persons with this disease often get better quickly and do not have symptoms between episodes. Usually, the attacks end as soon as the damaged cells stop moving through the body.

Complications:

Continued attacks
Kidney failure
Severe anemia

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of this disorder. The doctor can rule out other causes of the symptoms and decide whether you need treatment.

Blood cells

Reviewed last on: 3/28/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Schwartz RS. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 164.

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