Red Palms

[Gaspereaux]

Good evening, everyone,

I have a question about red palms. Do red palms indicate any particular stage of PDC? Or is it one of those things, that some people have and others don’t?

Thanks in advance!

[kingsnorth]

Hi, hope you are keeping well. I have had red palms and red soles of my feet long before diagnosis of PBC l also have lupus and was told at the London lupus clinic that red palms indicate an autoimmune disease but not particularly liver related. Mine l assumed was because l had lupus.

[DonnaBoll Administrator]

Red palms can be related to liver disease, hepatitis, or cirrhosis. The cause is unknown - I know before my transplant the hepatologist always looked at the palms of my hands.

[CeeCee101]

I get them too

[Candy12]

I’ve always had red palms, and my PBC is still in normal to mild range 14 years on ,so probably not related to disease progression.

Oddly I always thought it was some manifestation of the itch, because my hands and feet were always red and hot. I can’t even say how I came to think that. Just my brain adding two and two together and getting five I guess.

[Gaspereaux in reply to Candy12]

Thank you, Candy, that is comforting. .. do you mean you had the itch as a symptom? I don’t have it so far, hoping not to. If so, what do you take? Do you know if Urso controls itching?

[Candy12]

Have always had red palms and on occasion red soles to the feet. Never had the uncontrollable scratchy itch of PBC, just this redness on the palms.

Occasionally I might feel overheated like prickly heat, but that’s always been in relation to summer time, so I don’t believe that’s the PBC related itch.

I take Urso and latterly Bezafibrate as well, which was added when my ALP numbers started to rise to over 200, since then all my bloods are in normal range. That’s been over 4 years now.

I can’t say if Urso helps the itch directly but Ive heard Bezafibrate does help some people.

I’m not a good example on itch and medications as none were prescribed to me for that reason. But could they be keeping it away , yes I guess that’s entirely possible.

I do get fatigue and some brain fog if I over do it though so apart from that I wouldn’t know I had PBC.

[Gaspereaux in reply to Candy12]

Thank you! I am new to this so I don’t get my bloodwork done again until May. Funny you should mention brain fog….i noticed that i sent an email after 11 pm the other night, after a big day. I didn’t even remember i sent it! Having said that, it was a tiring day…aquafit, walking etc. Good grief1

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Gaspereaux]

Brain fog is a very real thing for many with PBC. It can often lead to having to change occupations or just forgetfulness during the day. It can be very frustrating. Some members in the US take a medication called Lactulose for it. You can always ask your doctor about it. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can occur in advanced liver disease.

[DonnaBoll Administrator]

This is something that can happen at any time with PBC or liver disease in general. I always wondered why docs kept looking at my palms for so many years. It's called palmar erythema.