The Role of Cold Agglutinins Screening in Cardiac Surgery: Necessity or Redundancy?

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine the prevalence of cold agglutinins (CA) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the Turkish population, to draw attention to the importance of preoperative diagnosis, and to increase clinicians' awareness of cold hemagglutinin disease (CHD).

METHODS

4273 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery between 2012-2022 were examined. All patients were routinely screened for CA. Patients were divided into two groups: 18-49 years old (Group 1) and over 50 years old (Group 2). Prevalence analysis was performed by comparing these age groups and genders.

RESULTS

Among all patients, CA was positive in 390 (9.12%). There was no difference between group 1 and group 2 in all patient groups and women. However, CA was found to be higher in group 2 in men compared to group 1 (n=154 (8.9%) and n=65 (6.6%), respectively), p=0.47). CA was found to be higher in women compared to men (n=171 (10.9%), n=219 (8.07%), respectively), p=0.015).

CONCLUSION

We found that CAs were considerably high in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the Turkish population. CA is important for cardiac surgery where hypothermia is used, and we believe that this pathology should be routinely screened in the preoperative period. Due to these rates that cannot be ignored, the clinical awareness of the heart team about CHD should be increased.