Osler's node

Osler's lesions found on the hand and fingers of a 43 year old male with subacute bacterial endocarditis.

Osler's nodes are painful, red, raised lesions found on the hands and feet. They are associated with a number of conditions, including infective endocarditis, and are caused by immune complex deposition. They are named after Sir William Osler who described them in the early 20th century.^[1][2] Their presence is one definition of Osler's sign.^[3]

Causes

Osler's nodes result from the deposition of immune complexes.^[4] The resulting inflammatory response leads to swelling, redness, and pain that characterize these lesions.

The nodes are commonly indicative of subacute bacterial endocarditis.^[5] 10–25% of endocarditis patients will have Osler's nodes.^{[citation needed]} Other signs of endocarditis include Roth's spots and Janeway lesions. The latter, which also occur on the palms and soles, can be differentiated from Osler's nodes because they are nontender.^[4]

It can also be seen in

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Marantic endocarditis
• Disseminated gonococcal infection
• Distal to infected arterial catheter

External links

• Picture of Osler's nodes and Janeway's lesions

References