title: A Hyperpigmented Reticular Rash in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis.
abstract: Chronically ill patients often develop uncommon exam findings. A 16-year-old female with end-stage renal disease secondary to immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis on peritoneal dialysis (PD) developed a pruritic, hyperpigmented reticular rash on her abdomen, sparing the PD catheter insertion site. The rash appeared approximately 6 weeks after initiating PD. She used a heating pad nightly during PD for dialysis drain pain. Testing for systemic and autoimmune disease was negative. She was referred to dermatology, where the diagnosis of erythema ab igne (EAI), a well-described but less well-known hyperpigmented reticular cutaneous eruption caused by chronic exposure to low levels of infrared heat, was confirmed. The eruption is typically painless but is often pruritic. Common sources of heat include fires, stoves, portable heaters, heating pads, and laptop computers. The association between EAI and PD is unknown. Our patient discontinued the heating pad and her rash resolved.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA asouth@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: South
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Milene K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Crispin
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Marqueling
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Heating pad; erythema ab igne; skin cancer; skin eruption