Acrocyanosis: The Flying Dutchman

• Published in: Vascular Medicine Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 288 - 301
• Main Authors: Kurklinsky, Andrew K, Miller, Virginia M, Rooke, Thom W
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-08-2011; Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cyanosis - diagnosis; Cyanosis - epidemiology; Cyanosis - physiopathology; Cyanosis - therapy; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Humans; Lower Extremity - blood supply; Medical sciences; Predictive Value of Tests; Regional Blood Flow; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Upper Extremity - blood supply; acrocyanosis; chilblains; capillaries; vascular diseases; arteries; blood flow velocity; vasospasm; arterial occlusive disease; cyanosis; ischemia; Skin disease; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Vasomotricity; Ischemia; Cyanosis; Vasospasm; Chilblain; Acrosyndrome; Vasoconstriction; Circulatory velocity; Acrocyanosis; Trauma; Blood flow; Capillary vessel disease; Occlusive arterial disease; Flow velocity; Hemodynamics; Cold induced disorder
• ISSN: 1358-863X; 1477-0377
• DOI: 10.1177/1358863X11398519

Acrocyanosis is symmetric, painless, discoloration of different shades of blue in the distal parts of the body that is marked by symmetry, relative persistence of the skin color changes with aggravation by cold exposure, and frequent association with local hyperhidrosis of hands and feet. Described over a century ago and despite seeming familiarity, it remains a poorly understood condition that shares much in clinical presentation with other conditions characterized by skin color changes in the distal parts of the body. The diagnosis remains mostly clinical, and pathological mechanisms vary suggesting that acrocyanosis may not be a single entity. We performed an extensive literature review to summarize existing knowledge about the demographics, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.