Secondary erythermalgia in systemic lupus erythematosus

Secondary erythermalgia, as a symptom of an underlying illness, is characterized by burning pain in the extremities together with local erythema and warmth. The onset and clinical symptomatology of secondary erythermalgia in a woman with a 20 year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is described. Histopathologic examination of affected skin areas revealed an inflammatory process compatible with vasculitis. These findings completely differ from the histopathology in erythromelalgia and in primary erythermalgia. The erythermalgic symptoms completely resolved by treatment with prednisone. We conclude that secondary erythermalgia in SLE in our patient was associated with cutaneous vasculitis.