FROM TRANSITORY ERYTHEMA TO PHEOCROMOCYTOMA

Abstract

This is a case report of a female with transitory erythema who was found with thrombocytosis caused by a pheocromocytoma. The skin changes were not accompanied by typical manifestations of an adrenergic crisis although she had high blood pressure episodes without skin colour changes. Both the erythema and the arterial hypertension controlled after the adrenal tumour was removed. Pheocromocytoma associates not only the excessive production of metanephrines and normetanephrines but also other factors like interleukins (for instance, IL-6, causing a general inflammatory syndrome including reactive thrombocytosis) eritropoietin or parathormone related peptide. Thrombocytosis is extremely rare associated with cathecolamines producing tumour and it may become a supplementary contributor to cardiovascular risk.

Keywords

• erythema
• abdominal tumour
• pheocromocytoma