The Case of the Purple Toes

An 88-year-old man with a history of CABG and TAVR presents with a skin condition on his toes. Explore the Differential Diagnosis for this complication.

Cholesterol embolization


An 88-year-old man with a history of a quadruple coronary-artery bypass grafting procedure and transapical transcatheter aortic-valve replacement presented with this skin condition. What is the cause of this appearance?

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Warfarin necrosis
Subacute bacterial endocarditis
Cryoglobulinaemia
Cholesterol embolization
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Atheroembolism, Blue toe syndrome, Cholesterol embolization, Livedo reticularis, TAVR

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