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Neurology (Expert Forum)
One side colder than other
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One side colder than other
by Sher__0, Sep 21, 1997 12:00AM
Re: One side colder than other
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Posted by CCF Neuro MD on September 22, 1997 at 22:26:42:
In Reply to: One side colder than other posted by Sher on September 21, 1997 at 22:37:02:
: What causes the left leg and hand to be ice cold, while the other side is
normal? My dad has parkinson's disease and a recent MRI showed that he had a stroke. Are these
problems related to the body being cold on one side only? Thank you
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Hello, Sher,
There are several things that can cause change of body temperature making one extremity or one side of body colder than the rest of body. These include both physiological conditions such as exposing to outside temperature, and pathological such as in certain vascular regulatory conditions. The physiologic ones are not much of a concern, and the body can self adjust back to normal. The pathological ones are related to clinical conditions. In most cases, there is a regulatory problem, meaning the mechanism that regulate the constriction and dilatation of peripheral vessels are not functioning well. Under normal circumstances, the vessels go through a sequence of constriction and dilation to best fit the ambient temperature. When the regulation is lost, the vessels will not dilate, and then the limb become cold. Patients with Parkinson’s disease may have autonomic dysfunction contributing to the lack of autoregulation at periphery. However, unilateral coldness would be unusual. Stroke, on the other hand, has been shown to relate to contralateral body temperature change. One recent work from Finland (Stroke.26(9):1543-7, 1995 Sep.) studied this phenomena and concluded that a temperature decline in the limbs contralateral to the side of infarction seems to be a frequent, long-lasting consequence of autonomic failure in patients with stroke. This is usually accompanied by other symptoms associated with the stroke. It seems important to have your dad evaluated by a neurologist, preferably a stroke specialist, to be sure what we are dealing with. If coming to Cleveland is not a problem, we would like to see your dad at our out patient department for a full evaluation. Please call toll free at (800) 223-2273 ext. 45559.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your primary physician for the treatment and diagnostic options of your specific condition.
