Vascular diseases are the most common cutaneous manifestations of reflex sympathetic dystrophy

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 1050 - 1051
• Main Authors: Sundaram, S., Webster, G.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01-06-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Atrophy; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Edema - complications; Edema - etiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - complications; Retrospective Studies; Skin Diseases - etiology; Skin Diseases - pathology; Vascular Diseases - etiology; Vascular Diseases - pathology; Human; Vascular disease; Symptomatology; Nervous system diseases; Skin disease; Diseases of the autonomic nervous system; Cardiovascular disease; Reflex sympathetic dystrophy; Skin
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2001.114299

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a chronic pain syndrome with prominent cutaneous findings. Atrophy has been considered to be the most common manifestation of the disease. We catalogued the abnormal skin conditions in RSD by means of chart review. Vascular problems were most common, followed by inflammatory diseases, infections, and atrophic diseases. Atrophic disease accounts for a minority of the skin problems seen in RSD. Most cutaneous complaints were related to vascular disease, particularly edema. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:1050-1.)