PN?

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Posted by CCF Neuro MD *!* on December 15, 1997 at 08:20:30:

In Reply to: PN? posted by PN on December 08, 1997 at 01:27:58:

:
  I do have a diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy. But, also (surprise) other symptoms. Several times in the past month my hands and feet have turned red. Not always at the same time. If it is my hands, my palms will turn red, and then all of my fingers, to the metacarpals, circumferential.
  The same thing happens to my feet, to include sole of foot and toes.  Occasionally it will occur with my knes turning red also. All test done when none of these symptoms are present, are negative. Dos this at all suggest peripheral neuropathy, or some other diagnosis?
  It isn't disabling, but I've hd problems with health and need to preare. thankyou for your help.
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There is a rare form of peripheral neuropathy known as erythromelalgia
in which there is redness of the feet in particular, this is accompanied by
pain and intolerance of warmth, classically the patient puts his/her legs
into cold water to achieve comfort.
I am unclear as to whether this is part of your picture or not however it
is the most clear cut example of redness of the extremities in PN.
The basis for redness of the feet/hands in PN is impairment of the nerve
supply to small blood vessels in the superficial layers of the skin
in the extremities. These nerves usually control blood supply
by causing constriction or dilation of the vessels which in turn
leads to pallour or redness. If the nerves to these vessels are involved in
PN it could form a basis for the symptoms you describe, but not always in
as dramatic or painful a form as  described above in Erythromelalgia.
In some of these neuropathies only the very fine nerve fibers are involved,
so there may not be any corresponding abnormalities on nerve conduction
studies , which look at larger nerve
fibers.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition.
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