Síndrome del dedo azul

Abstract

Blue digit syndrome (or sign) is a cutaneous manifestation of multiple diseases that produce acute or subacute ischemic compromise in one or more fingers or toes. The most frequent cause of this syndrome is a reduction in arterial blood flow due to compromise or occlusion of small peripheral vessels, with preservation of the distal pulses. The reduction in blood flow may be caused by a variety of pathogenic mechanisms including thrombosis, embolism, severe vasoconstriction, or inflammatory or non-inflammatory lesions of the vascular wall. The finger or toe affected by ischemia turns blue or violet and may develop necrosis.

Independently of the cause, blue digit syndrome is a medical emergency requiring rapid diagnosis and specific treatment, given the risk of progression to irreversible necrosis.