عنوان

Red puffy hand syndrome mistaken for inflammatory arthritis

Number

LA47d993kd

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Red puffy hand syndrome mistaken for inflammatory arthritis

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Barton, Michael; Fett, Nicole

Text of Note

Red puffy hand syndrome is an uncommon clinical manifestation of intravenous drug abuse, which presents with bilateral, painless and non-pitting erythema and edema of the dorsal hands. The pathophysiology is believed to primarily be the result of lymphatic blockage from either direct toxicity of the injected drug, drainage of impurities, or infection complications. A woman in her 40's with remote intravenous drug use presented with over a decade of fixed, painless erythema and swelling of bilateral dorsal hands. Owing to an elevated rheumatoid factor, which would later be attributed to patient's untreated hepatitis C, these findings were mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis and unnecessarily treated with methotrexate and prednisone. Upon proper recognition of her underlying Red puffy hand syndrome, systemic medications were discontinued and appropriate care was initiated with lymphedema decongestion and occupational therapy. Red puffy hand syndrome, albeit rare, is an important manifestation of intravenous drug abuse; its recognition will spare patients from unnecessary systemic treatments.

Date of Publication

2020

Title

Dermatology Online Journal

Volume Number

26/6

Entry Element

Barton, Michael; Fett, Nicole

Electronic name

[Article]

275578

a

Y