• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.508-511
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• 2011

Purpose: Blue toe syndrome consists of blue or purplish toes in the absence of a history of obvious trauma, serious cold exposure, or disorders producing generalized cyanosis. It is a life-threatening and still underrecognized disease. It can be commonly occurred by vascular surgery, invasive cutaneous procedures or anticoagulant therapy. Our case is presented of blue toe syndrome related to atheromatous embolization that was presumably triggered by angio CT. Methods: A 69-year-old man presented with the suddenly developed pain, cyanosis and livedo reticularis of the toes in right foot. Dorsalis pedis pulses were palpable. He had been performed a diagnostic angio CT 1 month earlier. Angio CT revealed diffuse aortic atheromatous plaque in lower abdominal aorta and both common iliac artery. One month after angio CT, he visited our clinic. There was no visible distal first dorsal metatarsal artery and digital artery of right first toe in lower extremity arteriography. A diagnosis was established of blue toe syndrome. Because his symptom was aggravated, we performed the exploration of the right foot. After exposure of first dorsal metatarsal artery, microsurgical atheroembolectomy was done. Results: There were no postoperative complications. After three months the patient had no clinically demonstrable problems. Conclusion: Patient with blue toe syndrome is at high risk of limb loss and mortality despite treatment. Blue toe syndrome produces painful, cyanosed toes with preserved pedal pulses. It needs to be aware of blue toe syndrome. Careful history should reveal the diagnosis. Treatment is controversial, however, most believe that anticoagulation therapy should be avoided.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.274-278
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• 2014

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of clinical criteria, including vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity and elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers. It is one of the causes of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that can be critical due to the mortality risk. Overall recurrence of thromboembolism is very low with adequate anticoagulation prophylaxis. The most effective treatment to prevent recurrent thrombosis is long-term anticoagulation. We report on a 17-year-old male with APS, who manifested blue toe syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, and cerebral infarction despite adequate long-term anticoagulation therapy.