Kravvas Georgios, Aboukhatwah Nada, Ali Lana, Bray Adam P
Department of Dermatology University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Department of Dermatology Whittington Health NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Oxf Med Case Reports. 2024 Apr 25;2024(4):omae037. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omae037. eCollection 2024 Apr.
Erythromelalgia is a rare, highly debilitating disorder characterised by severe episodes of discomfort, erythema, and desquamation of the extremities. Its causes include genetic factors, medications, and several underlying medical conditions. This paper describes a novel cause of erythromelalgia through a case report and literature review.
A 47-year-old Caucasian man presented with a two-year history of intermittent pain, redness and desquamation of the hands. He experienced several such episodes, each lasting 3-4 weeks. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of erythromelalgia. After several recurrences, he admitted to the intermittent use of pseudoephedrine as a nasal decongestant, which coincided with the episodes of erythromelalgia. Complete resolution of symptoms was reported on cessation of this medication.
Pseudoephedrine has been reported to cause a wide range of cutaneous reactions but has not been known to precipitate erythromelalgia. Recognition of this rare side effect may offer early diagnosis and reduced morbidity.
红斑性肢痛症是一种罕见的、使人极度虚弱的疾病，其特征为四肢出现严重的不适、红斑和脱屑发作。其病因包括遗传因素、药物以及多种潜在的疾病状况。本文通过病例报告和文献综述描述了红斑性肢痛症的一种新病因。
一名47岁的白人男性，有两年双手间歇性疼痛、发红和脱屑的病史。他经历了几次这样的发作，每次持续3 - 4周。皮肤活检确诊为红斑性肢痛症。经过几次复发后，他承认间歇性使用伪麻黄碱作为鼻减充血剂，这与红斑性肢痛症发作时间一致。停用该药物后症状完全缓解。
据报道，伪麻黄碱可引起多种皮肤反应，但此前未知其会引发红斑性肢痛症。认识到这种罕见的副作用可能有助于早期诊断并降低发病率。
