| Article Access Statistics | | | Viewed | 3947 | | | Printed | 106 | | | Emailed | 3 | | | PDF Downloaded | 92 | | | Comments | [Add] | | | Cited by others | 4 | | |
|
Click on image for details.
|
|
 |
| CASE REPORT |
|
|
|
| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 61
| Issue : 4 | Page : 419-420 |
Compartment syndrome as a spectrum of purple glove syndrome following intravenous phenytoin administration in a young male: A case report and review of literature
Puneet Chhabra1, Nikhil Gupta2, Atul Kaushik2
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
2 Department of Internal Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences; Department of Medicine, Delhi University, Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 02-May-2013 |
| Date of Decision | 15-Jun-2013 |
| Date of Acceptance | 22-Jul-2013 |
| Date of Web Publication | 4-Sep-2013 |
Correspondence Address:
Puneet Chhabra
House number 1088, Sec. 21 B, Chandigarh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.117611
Compartment syndrome is a rare complication of spectrum of purple glove syndrome, seen as a side effect of intravenous phenytoin. This involves rapid discolouration of the involved limb along with edema and sometimes blistering of the skin also. Treatment is usually conservative and rarely requires surgery. We present a case of compartment syndrome following intravenous phenytoin administration and review of literature related to the case.
Keywords: Compartment syndrome, phenytoin, purple glove syndrome
How to cite this article:
Chhabra P, Gupta N, Kaushik A. Compartment syndrome as a spectrum of purple glove syndrome following intravenous phenytoin administration in a young male: A case report and review of literature. Neurol India 2013;61:419-20 |
How to cite this URL:
Chhabra P, Gupta N, Kaushik A. Compartment syndrome as a spectrum of purple glove syndrome following intravenous phenytoin administration in a young male: A case report and review of literature. Neurol India [serial online] 2013 [cited 2021 Jan 26];61:419-20. Available from: https://www.neurologyindia.com/text.asp?2013/61/4/419/117611 |
| » Introduction | |  |
Purple glove syndrome is a rare side effect of intravenous phenytoin administration, which most commonly presents with limb discoloration and edema. It usually improves with conservative management only. However, at times, compartment syndrome can be the extreme presentation of the spectrum of this syndrome, which may require surgical management.
| » Case Report | | |
A 16-year-old male, who was a nonsmoker and nondiabetic and a known patient of tetrology of Fallot (TOF), attended the emergency room with history of two episodes of generalized tonic clonic seizures in the last 24 hours. On examination, the patient was drowsy (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14). He was started on injection phenytoin bolus dose 1000 mg in normal saline through an 18-G cannula inserted in the left lower limb. The infusion was given over 1 h. One hour post infusion, the patient developed severe pain in the same limb with swelling, inability to raise the limb, and paresthesias. Gradually, the swelling involved the whole limb, more proximally and in the medial aspect of the leg, with bluish discoloration and few blisters over the edematous area on the lateral aspect of the leg too [Figure 1]. On examination, the pulse rate was 94/min with a blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg; distal pulses were absent in the left lower limb and the patient had a power of 2/5. A possibility of compartment syndrome was considered, and immediately, the cannula was taken out and the limb was elevated. Doppler sonography revealed normal arterial flow velocities and flow in the left lower limb vessels, although there was evidence of edematous muscles and soft tissue in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg. Intracompartmental pressure was found to be more than 30 mm Hg and a single incision fasciotomy was done. Patient gradually improved, and after 72 h, skin closure was done. Patient was finally discharged on levetiracetam and is currently doing fine at 3 months of follow-up. | Figure 1: Bluish purple discoloration of the leg extending up to the knee with few blisters
Click here to view |
| » Discussion | | |
Compartment syndrome is an acute limb-threatening condition that can sometimes be fatal also, if not taken care of. Purple glove syndrome following intravenous phenytoin administration is a very rare event. It is more common in patients having underlying peripheral vascular disease. In a prospective study by Burneo et al., of the 179 patients examined after intravenous administration of phenytoin, only 3 patients developed purple glove syndrome. [1] The syndrome progresses through three stages. [2] During the initial stage, there is bluish purple discoloration at the intravenous site, followed by formation of edema and then gradual healing. There may be presence of cutaneous blisters, ulcers, and sloughing of skin.
Many theories have been put forward regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the development of this syndrome. Some of them ascribe this side effect of the drug to its chemical properties. [3] As phenytoin is a weak acid, sodium hydroxide is added to raise its pH and propylene glycol is added to enhance its solubility. These additives can cause vasoconstriction and soft tissue damage. The other hypothesis is phenytoin-induced endothelial damage and vasculitis. [4] After extravasation, the drug may alter the Starling forces and may draw fluid into the interstitial compartment by increasing the oncotic pressure of the interstitium. Another theory is formation of microthrombi in the vessels. However, definite pathophysiology remains elusive. Histopathologic changes have been described by Hayes et al., which include epidermal sloughing, and necrosis of the dermis as well as epidermis. [5] The authors also described thrombotic occlusion of the vessels of the dermis as well as the subcutaneous vessels. Our case is unique in the sense that the patient also had TOF with secondary polycythemia, which might have contributed to this syndrome.
Factors that decrease the incidence of purple glove syndrome include use of large bore cannulas, flushing the line after administration of phenytoin, and use of central lines for infusion. If possible, the oral route should be preferred, though oral phenytoin can also cause the syndrome. [6] Fosphenytoin is a better drug in this regard, as it is soluble in aqueous solutions and does not require propylene glycol or ethanol. However, it is much costlier as compared to phenytoin.
| » References | | |
| 1. | Burneo JG, Anandan JV, Barkley GL. A prospective study of the incidence of the purple glove syndrome. Epilepsia 2001;42:1156-9. 
[PUBMED] |
| 2. | Hanna DR. Purple glove syndrome: A complication of intravenous phenytoin. J Neurosci Nurs 1992;24:340-5.
[PUBMED] |
| 3. | Comer JB. Extravasation from intravenous phenytoin. Am J Intrav Ther Clin Nutr 1984;11:23.
|
| 4. | Spengler RF, Arrowsmith JB, Kilarski DJ, Buchanan C, Von Behren L, Graham DR. Severe soft tissue injury following intravenous infusion of phenytoin. Arch Intern Med 1988;148:1329-33.
[PUBMED] |
| 5. | Hayes AG, Chesney TM. Necrosis of the hand after extravasation of intravenously administered phenytoin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993;28:360-3.
[PUBMED] |
| 6. | Yoshikawa H, Abe T, Oda Y. Purple glove syndrome caused by oral administration of phenytoin. J Child Neurol 2000;15:762.
[PUBMED] |
[Figure 1]
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Pharmacologic treatment of status epilepticus |
|
| Eugen Trinka,Julia Höfler,Markus Leitinger,Alexandra Rohracher,Gudrun Kalss,Francesco Brigo | | Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2016; : 1 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Purple Glove Syndrome after Phenytoin or Fosphenytoin Administration: Review of Reported Cases and Recommendations for Prevention |
|
| Lyudmila A. Garbovsky,Byron C. Drumheller,Jeanmarie Perrone | | Journal of Medical Toxicology. 2015; 11(4): 445 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 3 |
Pharmacotherapy for Status Epilepticus |
|
| Eugen Trinka,Julia Höfler,Markus Leitinger,Francesco Brigo | | Drugs. 2015; 75(13): 1499 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 4 |
Phenytoin |
|
| | | Reactions Weekly. 2013; 1475(1): 30 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
|
|
|
