Medical Health Encyclopedia

Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH)


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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.


Support Groups


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.



Review Date: 03/28/2010
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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