The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Secondary Erythromelalgia - A Case Report -

  • Kang, Byoung Chan (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Nam, Da Jeong (National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital) ;
  • Ahn, Eun Kyoung (National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital) ;
  • Yoon, Duck Mi (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cho, Joung Goo (National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital)
  • Received : 2012.12.21
  • Accepted : 2013.01.16
  • Published : 2013.07.01
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Abstract

Erythromelalgia is a rare neurovascular pain syndrome characterized by a triad of redness, increased temperature, and burning pain primarily in the extremities. Erythromelalgia can present as a primary or secondary form, and secondary erythromelalgia associated with a myeloproliferative disease such as essential thrombocythemia often responds dramatically to aspirin therapy, as in the present case. Herein, we describe a typical case of a 48-year-old woman with secondary erythromelalgia linked to essential thrombocythemia in the unilateral hand. As this case demonstrates, detecting and visualizing the hyperthermal area through infrared thermography of an erythromelalgic patient can assist in diagnosing the patient, assessing the therapeutic results, and understanding the disease course of erythromelalgia.

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