What does acropachy mean?
Acropachy means thickening of the extremities and it is manifested by a triad of signs: digital clubbing, soft tissue swelling of the hands and feet, and periosteal new bone formation.
What causes acropachy?
The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by stimulating auto-antibodies that are implicated in the pathophysiology of Graves’ thyrotoxicosis. There is no effective treatment for acropachy.
Is thyroid acropachy specific to Graves?
Thyroid acropachy is a rare extra-thyroid manifestation of autoimmune thyroid disease. It affects about 0.3% of patients with Graves’ disease and often occurs in euthyroid and hypothyroid patients within weeks to many years after treatment of original thyrotoxicosis [1], [2].
Why do you get clubbing in Graves disease?
Graves acropachy is strongly associated with severe GO and with dermopathy (7). Most patients present with digital clubbing with radiologic study showing a periosteal reaction in phalangeal bones. Complaints of lower extremity pain, skin and nail changes may point to the diagnosis of acropachy (7).
What’s thyroid eye disease?
Thyroid eye disease is a rare disease characterized by progressive inflammation and damage to tissues around the eyes, especially extraocular muscle, connective, and fatty tissue. Thyroid eye disease is characterized by an active disease phase in which progressive inflammation, swelling, and tissue changes occur.
What Are Plummer’s nails?
Onycholysis is also referred to plummer’s nails is a dermatological nail disorder characterized by spontaneous distal separation of the nail plate from the free margin and progressively proximally. We discuss a case of the 38-year-old man with onycholysis associated with hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease.
What is thyroid dermopathy?
Thyroid dermopathy is an infrequent manifestation of autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by localized thickening of the skin commonly seen in the pretibial area. It is almost always associated with ophthalmopathy (96%) and sign and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
What does acropachy mean medical?
Medical definition of acropachy: an uncommon condition associated with autoimmune dysfunction of the thyroid gland (as in Graves’ disease) that is marked especially by swelling and clubbing of fingers and toes and periostitis of the hands and feet.
What is acropachy in Graves disease?
Acropachy refers to a dermopathy associated with Graves’ disease. It is characterized by soft-tissue swelling of the hands and clubbing of the fingers. Radiographic imaging of affected extremities typically demonstrates periostitis, most commonly the metacarpal bones.
What causes acropachy periostitis?
Radiographic imaging of affected extremities typically demonstrates periostitis, most commonly the metacarpal bones. The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by stimulating auto-antibodies that are implicated in the pathophysiology of Graves’ thyrotoxicosis. There is no effective treatment for acropachy.
Can extrathyroid disease cause acropachy in hands?
THYROID ACROPACHY: A RARE MANIFESTATION OF GRAVES DISEASE IN JOINTS We present a case of a patient with GD associated with worsening extrathyroid manifestations during orbitopathy, dermopathy, and developed acropachy in hands and feet.