Purple glove syndrome: a dreadful complication of intravenous phenytoin administration

Rakesh Lalla; Hardeep Singh Malhotra; Ravindra Kumar Garg; Ritesh Sahu

doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-006653

Purple glove syndrome: a dreadful complication of intravenous phenytoin administration

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Aug 24:2012:bcr2012006653. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006653.

Authors

Rakesh Lalla¹, Hardeep Singh Malhotra, Ravindra Kumar Garg, Ritesh Sahu

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Abstract

Purple glove syndrome is an uncommon but dreaded complication of intravenous phenytoin administration characterised by pain, oedema and purple-blue discolouration of the limb distal to the site of injection. We describe a 37-year-old gentleman having the characteristic purple glove appearance after phenytoin loading, and discuss the salient features of this syndrome highlighting the pathophysiological and preventive aspects.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Administration, Intravenous
Adult
Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
Anticonvulsants / adverse effects*
Drug Eruptions / etiology
Edema / chemically induced*
Encephalitis / complications
Fatal Outcome
Hand
Humans
Male
Pain / chemically induced*
Phenytoin / administration & dosage
Phenytoin / adverse effects*
Pigmentation Disorders / chemically induced*
Seizures / drug therapy
Seizures / etiology
Syndrome

Substances

Anticonvulsants
Phenytoin