
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Peripheral cyanosis, dyspnea, fever, chest pain, and clubbing
Introduction
Abbreviations: ABG= Arterial blood gas, ANP= Atrial natriuretic peptide, BNP= Brain natriuretic peptide, CBC= Complete blood count, COPD= Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, CRP= C-reactive protein, CT= Computed tomography, CXR= Chest X-ray, DVT= Deep vein thrombosis, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HRCT= High Resolution CT, IgE= Immunoglobulin E, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, PCWP= Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.
| Diseases | Cyanosis | Clinical manifestations | Para-clinical findings | Gold standard | Additional findings | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | Physical examination | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lab Findings | Imaging | ||||||||||||||||||
| Peripheral | Central | Dyspnea | Fever | Chest pain | Clubbing | Peripheral edema | Auscultation | CBC | ABG | Electrolytes | Other | X-ray | CT scan | Other | |||||
| Pulmonary diseases | Parenchymal disorder | Alveolitis[1] | +/- | + | + | + | + | +/- | – | Wheeze, Crackles | Leukocytosis, Eosinophilia | βO2, βCO2 | Normal | βESR, βCRP | Scattered opacities, Fine reticulation | HomogeneousΒ ground-glass opacity | – | HRCT PLUS Clinical findings | Malaise, Chills, Headache |
| Cystic fibrosis[2] | + | – | + | +/- | +/- | + | – | Wheeze, Crackles | Normal | βO2, βCO2 | Increased sweat chloride | Sweat chloride test | Hyperinflation, Nodules | Peribronchial thickening, Bronchiectasis | – | Sweat chloride test | Absent vas deferens | ||
| COPD | + | – | + | +/- | + | +/- | +/- | Reduced breath sounds, Wheeze, Inspiratory crackles | Polycythemia | βO2, βCO2 | Normal | Alpha 1-antitrypsin test | Elongated heart, Flattened diaphragms, Prominent hilar vasculature | Bullae | – | HRCT | Pulmonary hypertension, Right heart failure | ||
| Hematologic diseases | Polycythemia[4] | + | + | + | +/- | +/- | + | – | Normal | βRBC, βWBC, βHGB, βPlt | βO2 | Hyperkalemia | βLeukocyte alkaline phosphatase, βFerritin, βErythropoietin | AVM, COPD, pulmonary hypertension | Normal | Abdominal ultrasound or renal vascular studies for ruling out renal artery stenosis | RBC mass (RCM) and plasma volume measurement | Itchiness, Headache. Dizziness. Blurred vision | |
References
- β Lee JS, Im JG, Ahn JM, Kim YM, Han MC (August 1992). “Fibrosing alveolitis: prognostic implication of ground-glass attenuation at high-resolution CT”. Radiology. 184 (2): 451β4. doi:10.1148/radiology.184.2.1620846. PMIDΒ 1620846.
- β “Cystic fibrosis – Genetics Home Reference”.
- β Qureshi H, Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA (2014). “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: latest evidence and clinical implications”. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 5 (5): 212β27. doi:10.1177/2040622314532862. PMCΒ 4131503. PMIDΒ 25177479.
- β Spivak JL (February 2002). “The optimal management of polycythaemia vera”. Br. J. Haematol. 116 (2): 243β54. PMIDΒ 11841424.
Editor-In-Chief:
C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]
