Erythromelalgia: response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Erythromelalgia is a painful disorder of the extremities characterized by redness, swelling, a burning sensation, and an increase in skin temperature exacerbated by exposure to heat. 1 An early description was reported by Mitchell 2 in 1878. He coined the term erythromelalgia to denote the clinical features of redness (erythros), involvement of the extremities (melos), and the symptom of pain (algos). Later authors suggested the name "erythermalgia" to emphasize elevated temperature of the affected extremities, 3 and others have used the term "erythralgia". 4 There have been two recent comprehensive reviews of erythromelalgia. 1, 5