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Caldito EG, Caldito NG, Kaul S, Piette W, Mehta S. Erythromelalgia. Part II: Differential diagnoses and management. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:465-474. [PMID: 37364616 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.02.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The management of erythromelalgia is challenging and requires multidisciplinary effort. Patient education is crucial as unsafe self-administered cooling techniques can lead to significant morbidity, including acral necrosis, infection, and amputation. The goal of management is pain control, reduction of flare frequency, and prevention of complications. This text is focused on the management of erythromelalgia and several other incompletely understood and under-recognized neurovascular disorders such as red scrotum syndrome, red ear syndrome, facial flushing, and complex regional pain syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Subuhi Kaul
- Division of Dermatology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Warren Piette
- Division of Dermatology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Dermatology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Shilpa Mehta
- Division of Dermatology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois.
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Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, Lobo K, Frohman DFT, Donado C, Brownstein CA, Genetti CA, Madden A, Berde CB. Clinical Characterization of Pediatric Erythromelalgia: A Single-Center Case Series. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1282. [PMID: 37628281 PMCID: PMC10453121 DOI: 10.3390/children10081282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Erythromelalgia is a descriptive term for severe burning pain and erythema in the distal extremities relieved by cold and exacerbated by heat. Pediatric case series to date are relatively small. We extracted and analyzed medical record data for 42 pediatric patients to describe clinical characteristics, associated conditions, and responses to treatments. Informed consent was obtained according to an IRB-approved protocol that included gene discovery. Three patients had confirmed Nav1.7 sodium channelopathies, with six additional patients under investigation with novel gene candidates. There was a female predominance (2.5:1), and the median onset age was 12 years (IQR = 3-14). Patients saw a median of three specialists (IQR = 2-3) for a diagnosis. The majority (90%) reported bilateral symptoms. Cooling methods usually provided partial relief, while heat and exercise exacerbated pain. No medication appeared to be consistently effective; commonly prescribed medications included sodium channel blockers (n = 37), topical analgesics (n = 26), gabapentin (n = 22), and aspirin (n = 15). Based on the currently published literature, we believe this cohort is the largest pediatric study of erythromelalgia to date. Many findings are consistent with those of previously published case series. Work is in progress to establish a prospective cohort and multi-center registry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Don Daniel Ocay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Meghan Halpin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kimberly Lobo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dafni F. T. Frohman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Carolina Donado
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Catherine A. Brownstein
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Casie A. Genetti
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna Madden
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Charles B. Berde
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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