Diagnostic Tests for Blue skin

Diagnostic Test list for Blue skin:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Blue skin includes:

• Physical examination
  • Temperature, Blood pressure and pulse rate to assess possible shock
  • Cardiovascular examination for murmur or enlarged heart - may suggest rheumatic carditis, congenital heart disease or congestive heart failure.
  • Examine for reduced or absent peripheral pulses, cool peripheries, absence of hairs on peripheries to diagnose peripheral vascular disease
  • Examine respiratory system for any lung causes of blue skin
  • If blue hands; examine for finger tip ulcers which may be a complication of Raynaud's phenomenon and also examine for any signs of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polyarteritis nodosa, Buerger's disease, polycythaemia, leukemia, polymyositis and dermatomyositis that may cause Raynaud's phenomenon
  • If localized blue skin lesion look for characteristics of moles, blue nevus, livido reticularis ( a mottled blue discoloration of the skin that occurs in a netlike pattern), mongolian blue spot (a blue/black spot on the buttocks or lower back region)or varicose veins
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count to look for signs of leukemia or polycythaemia which may cause Raynaud's phenomenon; anemia of chronic disease
  • ESR may be raised in lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa
  • Rheumatoid factor, ANA antibodies, ENA antibodies, dsDNA antibodies, antinuclear and anticentromere antibodies to diagnose possible causes of Raynaud's phenomenon
• Other tests
  • If also evidence of central cyanosis e.g. blue tongue - depending on suspicion suggest arterial blood gases, ECG, chest X-Ray, pulmonary function studies, ventilation perfusion scan, pulmonary arteriography to diagnose heart and lung causes.
  • Muscle and skin biopsies - can diagnose polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

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