Acrosianosis: symptoms, causes, to treatment

x

Definition

What is acrocyanosis?

Acrocyanosis is a disorder that affects the arteries that supply blood to the skin of the hands and feet. These tiny arteries carry oxygen and nutrients from the blood.

In people with this condition, there are spasms in the arteries that block blood flow to the skin, so the skin is deprived of oxygen and turns blue or purple in color.

Acrocyanosis is a mild and painless condition, but it can sometimes be a sign of a serious medical condition in your body, such as heart and blood vessel disease.

The types of acrocyanosis are:

• Primary acrocyanosis is a condition associated with cold temperatures and emotional stress. This condition is not considered dangerous.
• Secondary acrocyanosis is a condition associated with other diseases, including eating disorders, psychiatric illnesses, and cancer.

The name for this condition comes from a Greek word akros which means "extreme" and kyanos which means "blue". It is not clear whether acrocyanosis is a single disease or is always linked to some other specific cause.

How common is this condition?

Acrocyanosis is a condition that tends to be rare, but is more common in women than men. This condition often occurs in babies born. However, some other cases occur in adolescents and young adults.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of acrocyanosis?

The main characteristic and symptom of acrocyanosis is that the hands or feet are always cold, and they turn blue. Sometimes the hands or feet can feel clammy or sweaty, even swollen.

The bluish color is usually more pronounced when it is cold, and will slowly disappear when warmed.

Usually, this condition does not cause pain. The arterial pulse will not be disturbed because there is no blockage in the large arteries in the hands or feet.

Quoted from Healthline, most newborns have blue hands and feet after childbirth and in the first few hours of their life. The symptoms of this condition usually come back when the baby feels cold or after taking a bath.

Primary acrocyanosis in newborns is a condition that occurs because blood and oxygen flow to the brain, lungs, kidneys, and other important parts of the body, not bunches and stiffness.

There may be symptoms not listed above. Consult your doctor for information about other symptoms.

Cause

What causes acrocyanosis?

The skin will lack oxygen and turn blue or purple when the blood supply to the skin of the feet or hands decreases.

Primary acrocyanosis

The suspected cause of primary acrocyanosis is narrowing of the small blood vessels which decreases the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your extremities. This narrowing has several reasons, namely:

• Cold temperature
• Living at high altitude with a combination of low oxygen pressure, increased wind and cold
• Genetic defects in your blood vessels.

The cause in newborns is caused by the baby who is accustomed to changes in blood circulation from the uterus. The oxygen-rich blood initially travels to the brain and other organs rather than to the hands and feet. There isn't much research specifically on the causes of this condition.

Secondary acrocyanosis

The causes of secondary acrocyanosis vary widely, including vascular disorders, infections, blood disorders, tumors, genetic diseases, and some medications.

• The most common cause of this condition is Raynaud's phenomenon, in which the extremities turn pale, then blue, and then red.
• In conditions of anorexia, weight loss can impair body heat regulation. It is estimated that 21 to 40 percent of people with anorexia suffer from this condition.
• The ergot alkaloids, which are used to treat migraines and headaches, can cause this disease.
• A viral infection transmitted by the chikungunya mosquito can cause this condition.
• Up to 24 percent of people with cancer suffer from this condition.

Diagnosis

How is this condition diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical examination. The doctor will check the pulse and perform checks to make sure there is no narrowing of the arteries or abnormal oxygen saturation.

In young adults, where the most likely diagnosis is primary acrocyanosis, only limited investigation is required. The way to make a diagnosis of primary acrocyanosis is based on the bluish coloration of the hands and feet (sometimes the nose and ears), when the hands and feet are cold and sweaty, and when the symptoms are not causing pain.

Circulation in small blood vessels can be measured using a non-invasive technique called capillaroscopy, which examines the capillaries in the nails.

Meanwhile, in older people, or if there are other symptoms, such as pain, examinations and investigations will be needed to determine the cause. Examinations for the investigation of acrocyanosis are:

• Pulse oximetry
• Urinalysis
• Complete blood count, C-reactive protein, ESR
• Standard biochemistry includes liver and kidney function
• Streptococcal titer
• Autoantibodies
• Immunoglobulin and plasma electrophoresis
• Complementary studies
• Chest X-ray
• Arterial and venous blood gas measurement
• Skin biopsy
• Nailfold capillaroscopy (to differentiate primary cyanosis from early-stage connective tissue disorders).

Treatment

The information below cannot be used as a substitute for a medical consultation. ALWAYS consult your doctor for information about medications.

How to deal with this condition?

Based on the type, how to deal with acrocyanosis are:

Primary acrocyanosis

This is not a serious condition and the way to deal with it is easy, namely by warming the body. This can be done by moving to a warm place, wearing heat-insulating gloves or socks, making sure your hands and feet are dry, and so on.

No treatment is required except in cases so severe that a sympathectomy is required to relieve spasm of the blood vessels. However, this operation should only be done if the condition is really severe.

Secondary acrocyanosis

Treatments to address the underlying cause can relieve the symptoms of this condition.

Primary acrocyanosis is an uncommon and mild condition. Some of the available treatments may relieve symptoms in serious cases.

In newborns, acrocyanosis is a serious condition and will go away on its own.

Unlike the primary types, secondary acrocyanosis is a condition that can be a sign of seriousness, depending on the underlying cause. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of this condition.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.