Is Palmar Erythema Associated With Liver Cirrhosis?

Posted on Fri, 24 Jun 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 Answered on

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : If I have red palms do to drinking. Is Palmar erythema only associated with severe advanced liver cirhosis or can it be associated with fatty liver not-cirhosis

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Palmar erythema could be simply due to cutaneous vasodilation

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar(dermatologist). I have gone through your query and i have noted your concern.

Alcohol is a vasodilator of cutaneous vasculature and palmar erythema may simply be a manifestation of this phenonmena rather than due to liver disease; palmar erythema is not a specific sign of cirrhosis and can be seen otherwise. Moreover liver cirrhosis can be more accurately confirmed by ultrasound or liver biopsy in an appropriate clinical scenario e.g a chronic alcoholic patient with pedal edema, ascites, hemetemesis (vomiting of blood) and/or deranged liver function tests.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar