FAMILIAL ERYTHERMALGIA - USEFULNESS OF PI ZOTIFENE

Introduction. Primary erythermalgia is a rare acrosyndrome due to paro xystic arteriolar dilatation of extremities that become red and conges ted with warmth and burning sensation or pain. Observation. We report herein the observation of a primary erythermalgia affecting 3 degrees in the same family (grandfather, uncle/mother, and children with early onset at 6 years): pizotifene, an antiserotoninergic drug proved to b e effective in mother and 14-year-old child who had never drawn benefi t from any previous treatment. Discussion. Several etiologies may be r esponsible for erythermalgia according to the clinical type: primary e rythermalgia with pediatric onset, and secondary erythermalgia as a re action to myeloproliferation, other diseases, drug or heavy metal pois oning. Pathophysiology of primary eryrhermalgia is not clearly underst ood and the main concern is therapy: in this respect, pizotifene deser ves to be considered as a valuable possibility.