title: Lesson of the month 1: sudden onset postural livedo reticularis, cyanotic toes and multiorgan failure.
abstract: Cholesterol embolisation syndrome (CES) is a rare but serious disease with high mortality caused by the formation of an embolus made up of cholesterol crystals from atherosclerotic plaques. Its clinical presentation is usually initially insidious and it often remains unrecognised because of its non-specific clinical presentation, which can cause delays in treatment and high mortality. The most common physical symptoms are cutaneous. We present a lethal case of CES to increase the awareness about this serious condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Afyonkarahisar Government Hospital, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey nilybayram@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey nilybayram@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sedef
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D054068:Livedo Reticularis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Atherosclerotic plaque; cyanosis; embolism; livedo reticularis; multiorgan failure