heart and blood vessel disorders
Erythromelalgia
Introduction
Erythromelalgia is a rare syndrome in which small arteries (arterioles) of the skin dilate periodically, causing a burning pain, making the skin feel hot, and making the feet and, less often, the hands turn red. Erythromelalgia is a Overview of Functional Peripheral Arterial Disease . Usually, the cause of erythromelalgia is unknown. In such cases, the disorder tends to start when people are in their 20s or older. A rare hereditary form of erythromelalgia starts at birth or during childhood. (a medication used to treat High Blood Pressure ) or Erythromelalgia also occurs sometimes in people who have Certain blood disorders ( Overview of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ) Diabetes Mellitus (DM) None Gout None High Blood Pressure None Lichen Sclerosus None Multiple Sclerosis (MS) None Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) None Spinal cord disorders Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (lupus) Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Post-Thrombotic Syndrome None Erythromelalgia usually develops 2 to 3 years before another underlying disorder is diagnosed. Symptoms include burning pain in the feet or hands, which feel hot and appear red. Attacks are usually triggered by environmental temperatures of over 84° F (over about 29° C). Symptoms may remain mild for years or may progress and become completely incapacitating. Diagnosis of erythromelalgia is based on the symptoms and the increase in skin temperature. Tests, such as blood cell counts, are usually done to help identify a underlying disorders. Genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis of hereditary erythromelalgia in a person who has onset of symptoms in childhood. Affected people should receive genetic counseling because there is a 50% chance they will pass the disorder onto their children. 