Purple Glove Syndrome

- May lead to amputationWebMD: 20 Drugs the FDA Is Watching (September 5, 2008)
- Poorly understood diseaseUnbound Medline: Incidence and consequence of purple glove syndrome (1998)
- Can be caused by intravenous injection of epilepsy drug PhenytoinWebMD: 20 Drugs the FDA Is Watching (September 5, 2008)
- Phenytoin has been in use since 1950sAAFP: Photo Quiz: Edema and Discoloration
- Phenotoin's safety is under investigation by the Food and Drug AdministrationWebMD: 20 Drugs the FDA Is Watching (September 5, 2008)

Purple glove syndrome is a skin disorder in which the extremities become swollen and painful and discolored.Unbound Medline: Incidence and consequence of purple glove syndrome (1998) The name of the disorder refers to the severe discoloration that results in the hands.Unbound Medline: Incidence and consequence of purple glove syndrome (1998) Purple glove syndrome has been seen as an adverse reaction to the anti-epileptic drug Phenytoin, an injectable form of Dilantin.WebMD: 20 Drugs the FDA Is Watching (September 5, 2008)
Cause

Purple glove syndrome is a result of leaking from the blood vessels.AAFP: Photo Quiz: Edema and Discoloration It is not known, however, exactly how the administration of Phenytoin can cause the leaking.AAFP: Photo Quiz: Edema and Discoloration