Clinical Signs and Their Causes

Flashcards based on lecture notes about clinical signs and their causes.

Cause of Butterfly rash

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Cause of Conjunctival pallor

Anemia

Cause of Uveitis, scleritis

Systemic vasculitis

Cause of Band keratopathy

CKD, hyperparathyroidism

Cause of Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes mellitus

Cause of Hypertensive retinopathy

Chronic hypertension

Cause of Xanthelasma

Hyperlipidemia in PBC

Cause of Kayser-Fleischer ring

Wilson disease (Cu++ deposition)

Cause of Corneal arcus

Normal aging or hyperlipidemia

Cause of Loss of outer third of eyebrows

Hypothyroidism

Cause of Periorbital puffiness

Hypothyroidism

Cause of Dry eyes

Hypothyroidism or Sjögren's syndrome

Cause of Gingival hyperplasia

Ciclosporin, Tacrolimus

Cause of Uraemic fetor

CKD (uremia)

Cause of Angular stomatitis

Vit B1/B12/Fe deficiency, candidiasis

Cause of Glossitis (smooth red tongue)

Iron, B12, or folate deficiency

Cause of Macroglossia

Amyloidosis, B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism

Cause of Leukoplakia

Smoking, poor hygiene, syphilis

Cause of Oral candidiasis

Immunosuppression, DM

Cause of Telangiectasia

Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome

Cause of Circumoral pigmentation

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Cause of Bad breath (halitosis)

Hepatic/uremic/ketoacidosis

Cause of Acanthosis nigricans

Insulin resistance, obesity, GIT cancers

Cause of Cervical lymphadenopathy

Infection, lymphoma, metastasis

Cause of Virchow’s node

Gastric cancer

Cause of Thyroid enlargement

Graves’ or Hashimoto’s disease, autoimmune hepatitis

Cause of Jugular venous distention

Right heart failure, constrictive pericarditis

Cause of Clubbing

Lung cancer, TB, IBD, cirrhosis

Cause of Koilonychia

Iron deficiency anemia

Cause of Leukonychia

Hypoalbuminemia

Cause of Beau’s lines

Hypoalbuminemia

Cause of Lindsay’s nails

CKD, hypoalbuminemia

Cause of Palmar erythema

CLD, pregnancy, RA

Cause of Flapping tremor

Hepatic encephalopathy

Cause of Dupuytren’s contracture

Alcoholism, liver disease

Cause of Splinter hemorrhages

Infective endocarditis, vasculitis

Cause of Psoriatic nail pitting

Psoriatic arthritis

Cause of Tar stains

Smoking

Cause of Needle marks

IV drug use (risk of HCV, HBV)

Cause of Sacral oedema

Bedbound patients

Cause of Pitting oedema in legs

Heart failure, renal failure, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome

Cause of Generalized oedema (anasarca)

Severe heart/liver/kidney failure

Cause of Pretibial myxedema

Graves’ disease (thyrotoxicosis)

Cause of Thick, discolored shin skin

Mucopolysaccharide accumulation (Graves’ disease)

Cause of Loss of hair on shins

Chronic ischemia, peripheral vascular disease

Cause of Erythema nodosum

GIT tuberculosis, active IBD, sarcoidosis

Cause of Pyoderma gangrenosum

Ulcerative colitis (active IBD)

Cause of Dermatitis herpetiformis

Celiac disease

Cause of Testicular atrophy

Liver cirrhosis (due to increased estrogen)

Cause of Scrotal oedema

Generalized oedema (anasarca)

Cause of Pubic hair loss

Hormonal imbalance (e.g., liver cirrhosis)

Cause of Unilateral lower limb oedema

DVT, cellulitis, elephantiasis, ruptured Baker’s cyst

Cause of Bilateral lower limb oedema

Heart failure, renal failure, liver cirrhosis

Cause of Inguinal lymphadenopathy

Infection, malignancy, metastasis from lower limb/genital organs

Cause of Discoloration of lower limb skin

Chronic venous insufficiency, dermatitis

Cause of Muscle wasting (lower limb)

Disuse atrophy, chronic ischemia, systemic disease

Cause of Ischemic changes (cold, pale)

Peripheral arterial disease

Cause of Deformities (e.g., foot arch loss)

Chronic neuropathy, diabetes

Cause of Absent dorsalis pedis pulse

Peripheral vascular disease, embolism

Possible Cause of Spider nevi on chest skin

Chronic Liver Disease (up estrogen levels in cirrhosis)

Possible Cause of Gynaecomastia (in males)

Alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis), drugs (digoxin, cimetidine)

Possible Cause of Loss of male hair pattern

Liver cirrhosis (hormonal imbalance)

Possible Cause of Breast atrophy (in females)

Chronic Liver Disease

Possible Cause of Bronchial breathing

Lung consolidation (e.g., pneumonia, mass)

Possible Cause of Increased bowel sounds

Intestinal obstruction, gastroenteritis

Possible Cause of Systolic murmur

Cardiac valvular disease (may radiate to chest)

Possible Cause of Kussmaul breathing

Severe metabolic acidosis (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis)

Signs of fluid overload

Congestive heart failure, CKD

Possible Cause of Abdominal distension

Ascites (liver cirrhosis), intestinal obstruction, tumor

Possible Cause of Dilated abdominal veins

Portal hypertension

Possible Cause of Everted umbilicus

Ascites or large intra-abdominal mass

Tenckhoff catheter

Peritoneal dialysis (used in CKD patients)

Renal transplant scar

Post-kidney transplantation

Nephrectomy scar

History of kidney removal

Cause of Cyanosis at fingertips

Respiratory or cardiac failure, Peripheral

Cause of Petechiae, Purpura, Ecchymosis (hemorrhagic)

Thrombocytopenia, Liver cirrhosis (hypersplenism), Vasculitis

Cause of Spider nevi (face/upper chest & hands)

Chronic liver disease (estrogen), Pregnancy, OCP use

Cause of Heberden's nodes (DIP) Joints

Osteoarthritis

Cause of Bouchard's nodes (PIP)

Osteoarthritis

Cause of Swan neck deformity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Cause of Boutonnière deformity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Cause of Z-thumb deformity

RA

Cause of Ulnar deviation

RA

Cause of Wrist subluxation

RA

Cause of Jaundice (yellow skin)

Liver disease, Hemolysis

Cause of Hypopigmentation (e.g., vitiligo)

Autoimmune diseases (PBC, Celiac, IBD)

Cause of Hyperpigmentation (bronze skin)

Hemochromatosis, PBC

Cause of Injection marks

IV drug use (risk of HCV, HBV, HIV)

Cause of Acanthosis nigricans

Insulin resistance (DM, PCOS), GI cancers (e.g., gastric adenocarcinoma)

Cause of Cold and sweaty hands

Hypoglycemia, Anxiety

Cause of Hot and sweaty hands

Hyperthyroidism

Cause of Cold and dry hands

Hypothyroidism

Cause of Large hands

Acromegaly

Cause of Hand deformity

Rheumatoid arthritis

Cause of Delayed grip relaxation

Myotonic dystrophy

Cause of Broken nails

Vitamin D deficiency

Cause of Clubbing

Chronic hypoxia, IBD

Cause of Splinter hemorrhage

Infective endocarditis

Cause of Leukonychia

Hypoalbuminemia

Cause of Koilonychia

Iron deficiency anemia