Blue toe syndrome is a situation that may reflect atherothrombotic
microembolism
An embolism is the lodging of an embolus, a blockage-causing piece of material, inside a blood vessel. The embolus may be a blood clot (thrombus), a fat globule ( fat embolism), a bubble of air or other gas (gas embolism), amniotic fluid (amnio ...
, causing transient focal ischaemia, occasionally with minor apparent tissue loss, but without diffuse forefoot
ischemia
Ischemia or ischaemia is a restriction in blood supply to any tissue, muscle group, or organ of the body, causing a shortage of oxygen that is needed for cellular metabolism (to keep tissue alive). Ischemia is generally caused by problems wi ...
. The development of blue or violaceous toes can also occur with trauma, cold-induced injury, disorders producing generalized cyanosis, decreased arterial flow, impaired venous outflow, and abnormal circulating blood. The terms "blue toe syndrome", "grey toe syndrome" and "purple toe syndrome" are sometimes used interchangeably.
Studies may include
echocardiography
An echocardiography, echocardiogram, cardiac echo or simply an echo, is an ultrasound of the heart.
It is a type of medical imaging of the heart, using standard ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound.
Echocardiography has become routinely used in t ...
, thoracic and abdominal CT or MRI, peripheral arterial run off imaging studies, hypercoagulopathy labs, and interrogation of syndromes that lead to peripheral vascular pathology.
See also
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Cholesterol embolism
Cholesterol embolism occurs when cholesterol is released, usually from an atherosclerotic plaque, and travels as an embolus in the bloodstream to lodge (as an embolism) causing an obstruction in blood vessels further away. Most commonly this causes ...
References
External links
* Pictures are available on this link
'Blue toe syndrome'
Foot diseases
Ischemia
Syndromes affecting the vascular system
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