erythromelalgia

1. A rare disorder most common in middle age, characterized by paroxysmal attacks of severe burning pain, reddening, hyperalgesia, and sweating, involving one or more extremities, usually both feet; the attacks can be triggered by warmth, and are usually relieved by cold and limb elevation. 2. Paroxysmal throbbing and burning pain in the skin often precipitated by exertion or heat, affecting the hands and feet, accompanied by a dusky mottled redness of the parts with increased skin temperature; associated with and often preceding myeloproliferative and other disorders. SYN: erythermalgia, Gerhardt-Mitchell disease. [erythro- + G. melos, limb, + algos, pain]

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eryth·ro·mel·al·gia -məl-'al-jə n a state of excessive dilation of the superficial blood vessels of the feet or more rarely the hands accompanied by hyperemia, increased skin temperature, and burning pain

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n.

painful paroxysmal dilation of the blood vessels of the skin, usually affecting the extremities; the skin feels hot. Some patients may respond to aspirin.

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eryth·ro·mel·al·gia (ə-rith″ro-məl-alґjə) [erythro- + melalgia] a disease affecting the feet and sometimes the hands, marked by paroxysmal, bilateral vasodilation with burning pain, increased skin temperature, and redness. Called also acromelalgia and Gerhardt or Weir Mitchell disease.