{{Short description|Reddening of the palms}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Palmar erythema | synonyms = | image = Palmar erythema.jpg | caption = | pronounce = | field = | symptoms = | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = }} '''Palmar erythema''' is reddening of the palms at the thenar and hypothenar eminences.<ref name="Andrews">James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). ''Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology''. (10th ed.). Saunders. {{ISBN|0-7216-2921-0}}.</ref>{{rp|139}}
==Causes== It is associated with various physiological as well as pathological changes, or may be a normal finding: *Portal hypertension *Chronic liver disease (including chronic hepatitis<ref>Basic pathology 8th edition p 646</ref>) *Pregnancy *Polycythemia *Thyrotoxicosis *Rheumatoid arthritis (especially in patients with polycythaemia)<ref>{{Citation |vauthors=Saario R, Kalliomaki JL |date=Dec 1985 | title=Palmar erythema in rheumatoid arthritis | periodical=Clin Rheumatol. | volume=4 |issue=4 | pages=449–51 | pmid=3830522 | doi=10.1007/BF02031898}}</ref> *Eczema and psoriasis * Deep telangiectasias * Coxsackievirus A infection (Hand, foot and mouth disease)<ref name="Le T, Bhushan V, Vasan N 2010 156"/> * Rocky Mountain spotted fever<ref name="Le T, Bhushan V, Vasan N 2010 156">{{citation |vauthors=Le T, Bhushan V, Vasan N | year=2010 | title= First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 | page=156 | id=mhid: 0-07-163340}}</ref> * Secondary syphilis<ref name="Le T, Bhushan V, Vasan N 2010 156"/> * Kawasaki disease * Adverse drug reaction: palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia (acral erythema)
Because circulating levels of estrogen increase in both cirrhosis and pregnancy, estrogen was thought to be the main cause for the increased vascularity. More recently, nitric oxide has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of palmar erythema.<ref>{{Cite book |vauthors= Nevzati E, Shafighi M, Bakhtian KD, Treiber H, Fandino J, Fathi AR |chapter=Estrogen Induces Nitric Oxide Production Via Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation in Endothelial Cells |date=2015 |periodical= Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement |volume=120 |pages=141–145 |doi= 10.1007/978-3-319-04981-6_24 |pmid=25366614 |title=Neurovascular Events After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage |series=Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement |isbn=978-3-319-04980-9 }}</ref>
==Treatment==
Palmar erythema has no specific treatment. Management is based on the underlying cause. When its cause is treated then patients get relief. If it is attributable to a particular drug then the drug should be withdrawn.
==See also== * Toxic erythema * List of cutaneous conditions
==References== {{reflist}} == External links == {{Medical resources | DiseasesDB = 24070 | ICD10 = L53.8 (ILDS L53.840) | ICD9 = {{ICD9|695.0}} | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = | eMedicineTopic = | MeshID = }} {{Urticaria and erythema}}
Category:Erythemas Category:Rheumatoid arthritis