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Review
. 2011 Aug;16(4):288-301.
doi: 10.1177/1358863X11398519. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

Acrocyanosis: the Flying Dutchman

Andrew K Kurklinsky  1 , Virginia M Miller, Thom W Rooke
Affiliations
Review

Acrocyanosis: the Flying Dutchman

Andrew K Kurklinsky et al. Vasc Med. 2011 Aug.

Erratum in

  • Vasc Med. 2011 Oct;16(5):409

Abstract

Acrocyanosis is symmetric, painless, discoloration of different shades of blue in the distal parts of the body that is marked by symmetry, relative persistence of the skin color changes with aggravation by cold exposure, and frequent association with local hyperhidrosis of hands and feet. Described over a century ago and despite seeming familiarity, it remains a poorly understood condition that shares much in clinical presentation with other conditions characterized by skin color changes in the distal parts of the body. The diagnosis remains mostly clinical, and pathological mechanisms vary suggesting that acrocyanosis may not be a single entity. We performed an extensive literature review to summarize existing knowledge about the demographics, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hand and foot of a patient with acrocyanosis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Approach to the diagnosis of purple digits in an adult. (CBC, complete blood count; HCV, hepatitis C virus; tPA, alteplase [tissue plasminogen activator].) Reproduced from ref. with permission from Adis, a Wolters Kluwer business (© Adis Data Information BV 2010. All rights reserved).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Approach to the diagnosis of purple digits in an adult independent of temperature. (AV, arteriovenous; HTN, hypertension; STAT, immediately.) Reproduced from ref. with permission from Adis, a Wolters Kluwer business (© Adis Data Information BV 2010. All rights reserved).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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