Autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome: Gardner-Diamond syndrome

摘要

Autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome is a disease that mostly affects young woman and characterized by painful localized inflamation and ecchymoses. Ecchymoses can occur spontaneously, particularly with emotional stress and after mild trauma. The syndrome was described by Gardner and Diamond who concluded that the accompanying ecchymoses was the result of autosensitization to extravasated erythrocytes after tissue trauma. To support this conclusion they reproduced similar lesions by intradermal injections of autologous erythrocyte suspensions. The extremities are most commonly involved and an association with somatic and psychiatric syndromes has been recognised. AES syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of factitial purpura and coagulopathies. A case of 21 year-old-female who has signs of emotional and somatic disturbance including depression, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, anorexia, muscle and joint aches with several episodes of circular ecchymoses on her arms and legs is presented and the literature is reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed by induction of similar lesions by intradermal injection of the patient’s own erythrocytes.