Blue toe syndrome secondary to cholesterol atheroembolia: Report of a case and literature review

Abstract

We describe the case of a 68 year-old woman with very high cardiovascular risk. She consulted because of cyanosis in the toes, associated with transient focal neurological symptoms. Evolution had been 5 days. She was hospitalized with the diagnostic impression of blue toe syndrome and critical arterial ischemia of the lower limbs possibly due to embolic events. After an endovascular procedure, she developed sudden neurological impairment due to multiple strokes, as well as acute renal failure. Biopsy of the affected toes revealed cholesterol crystals inside the blood vessels. Based on the case, a short review about the blue toe syndrome and its main cause, atheroembolism, is presented.

Keywords

• Atheroembolia
• Blue Toe Syndrome
• Cholesterol Embolism