Korean J Pain.  2013 Jul;26(3):299-302. 10.3344/kjp.2013.26.3.299.

Secondary Erythromelalgia: A Case Report

• Kang BC
• Nam DJ
• Ahn EK
• Yoon DM
• Cho JG

• KMID: 2074033
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2013.26.3.299

Abstract

Erythromelalgia is a rare neurovascular pain syndrome characterized by a triad of redness, increased temperature, and burning pain primarily in the extremities. Erythromelalgia can present as a primary or secondary form, and secondary erythromelalgia associated with a myeloproliferative disease such as essential thrombocythemia often responds dramatically to aspirin therapy, as in the present case. Herein, we describe a typical case of a 48-year-old woman with secondary erythromelalgia linked to essential thrombocythemia in the unilateral hand. As this case demonstrates, detecting and visualizing the hyperthermal area through infrared thermography of an erythromelalgic patient can assist in diagnosing the patient, assessing the therapeutic results, and understanding the disease course of erythromelalgia.

Keyword

aspirin; erythromelalgia; infrared thermography; neuropathic pain

MeSH Terms

Aspirin
Burns
Erythromelalgia
Extremities
Female
Hand
Humans
Neuralgia
Thermography
Thrombocythemia, Essential
Aspirin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A, B) Initial DITI (digital infrared thermal image) shows the higher temperature of the affected area of the right hand specifying vascular markings. (C) DITI a month after aspirin medication and chemotherapy. The temperature in the affected areas decreased showing little color boundary between the affected area and the remaining areas similar to the temperature of the unaffected arm.

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