[Acrorhigosis]

Abstract

Acroasphyxia is not acrocyanosis and acrocyanosis is not acrorhigosis; this classification was drawn up in 1932 by Comel and his school. It involves persistent sensations of cold in the extremities, often with hypothermia but without cyanosis and without wetness. Young women often suffer from this complaint, classified clinically as sine materia but in fact accompanied if not caused by a slight decrease of the distal flow, by dystonia reactive to the exterior cold, and by acrothermic, poikilothermic behaviour. Digital pulp biopsy shows an abnormally high number of glomic anastomoses. Acrorhigosis may be explained by an atonic, hypertonic syndrome, by hyperactive block dispositives and by excessive anastomosisation. Treatment of acrorhigosis is possible.