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blanchable erythema
Reddened area of the skin that temporarily turns white or pale when pressure is applied with a fingertip. This suggests a vascular source for the erythema. The blanching suggests erythrocytes remain in the capillaries & are not extravasted into the surrounding dermis.
Etiology:
- port-wine-stain (present at birth)
- telangiectasia (may be present at birth)
- skin infection
- allergic reaction
- exercise
- sunburn
- niacin
- radiation injury
Clinical manifestations:
- macular erythema that disappears with diascopy
Complications:
- blanchable erythema in hospitalized patients, predicts development of pressure ulcers; sensitivity 75%, specficity 77%
Differential diagnosis:
- petechiae, purpura & echymosis involve microvascular disruption leading to extravasation of erythrocytes into the surrounding dermis thus are not blanchable
- hemangioma (not macular)
Related
nonblanchable erythema
General
erythema
References
- Konishi C et al
A prospective study of blanchable erythema among university
hospital patients.
Int Wound J. 2008 Jun;5(3):470-5.
PMID: 18593396
- When is a rash blanchable, when is it not.
http://www.usmleforum.com/files/forum/2008/2/277893.php