[Familial erythermalgia treated with pizotifen]. / Erythermalgie familiale trait par pizotifé.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Primary erythermalgia is a rare acrosyndrome due to paroxystic arteriolar dilatation of extremities that become red and congested 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 be effective in mother and 14-year-old child who had never drawn benefit from any previous treatment. DISCUSSION: Several etiologies may be responsible for erythermalgia according to the clinical type primary erythermalgia with pediatric onset, and secondary erythermalgia as a reaction to myeloproliferation, other diseases, drug or heavy metal poisoning. Pathophysiology of primary erythermalgia is not clearly understood and the main concern is therapy in this respect, pizotifene deserves to be considered as a valuable possibility.