title: [Cholesterol embolism].
abstract: Two patients with advanced atherosclerotic vascular disease developed multiple cholesterol emboli. In both patients the clinical presentation included livedo reticularis of the lower part of the body and purple toes with small areas of distal necrosis and ulceration. The predisposing factors are operative vascular procedures and the use of anticoagulants respectively. Biopsy of skin lesions revealed characteristic cholesterol clefts within atheromatous debris filling small, deep arterial lumen. Multiple cholesterol emboli should be suspected in presence of cutaneous lesions and confirmed histologically in the appropriate clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fuente
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bielsa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribera
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pellicer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrándiz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
vernacular_title: Enfermedad por émbolos de colesterol.