title: Blue toe syndrome after initiation of low-dose oral anticoagulation.
abstract: Cholesterol emboli are a known complication after arterial catheterization, arterial surgery, and after lysis with plasminogen activators. The clinical presentation of cholesterol emboli is variable ranging from a localized blue toe syndrome to a multisystem disease. The purpose of this case report is to report on a patient with blue toe syndrome and livedo reticularis occuring two months after initiation of low-dose oral anticoagulation with phenproucomon. The non-invasive studies revealed an infrarenal abdominal aneurysma lined by a thin wall thrombus as a potential source of cholesterol emboli. The patient had a benign course with resolution of toe pain after a period of four weeks, without development of an ulceration. The case report demonstrates that cholesterol emboli may also occur in patients treated with low-dose oral anticoagulation and no previous arterial catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik der Universität München, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rauh
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Spengel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018438:Blue Toe Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D014034:Toes / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants