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Osler's node
Painful raised skin lesions of the hands and feet From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Osler's nodes are painful, red, raised lesions found typically on the hands and feet.[1] They are associated with a number of conditions, including infective endocarditis, and are caused by immune complex deposition. Their presence is one definition of Osler's sign.[2]
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Causes
Osler's nodes result from the deposition of immune complexes.[3] The resulting inflammatory response leads to swelling, redness, and pain that characterize these lesions.
The nodes are commonly indicative of subacute bacterial endocarditis.[4] 10–25% of endocarditis patients will have Osler's nodes.[5] Other signs of endocarditis include Roth's spots and Janeway lesions. The latter, which also occur on the palms and soles, can be differentiated from Osler's nodes because they are non-tender.[3]
Osler's nodes can also be seen in
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Marantic endocarditis
- Disseminated gonococcal infection
- Distal to infected arterial catheter
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Etymology
Osler's nodes are named after Sir William Osler who described them in the early twentieth century.[6][7] He described them as "ephemeral spots of a painful nodular erythema, chiefly in the skin of the hands and feet."[1]
References
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