Salus's sign

Salus's sign is a medical sign used in the field of cardiology. It is named after the German physician, August Karl Gustav Bier, who first described it in 1906. The sign is observed in patients with severe aortic regurgitation, a condition where the aortic valve does not close tightly, causing blood to leak from the aorta back into the left ventricle.

Definition

Salus's sign is defined as the presence of a pulsatile, bluish discoloration of the nail beds or lips in patients with severe aortic regurgitation. This sign is caused by the increased flow of oxygenated blood to the periphery due to the regurgitant flow across the aortic valve.

Clinical significance

The presence of Salus's sign indicates severe aortic regurgitation. It is one of several physical signs that can be used to assess the severity of this condition. Other signs include Corrigan's pulse, a rapid and forceful distention of the arteries followed by a sudden collapse, and Quincke's sign, a pulsation of the capillaries in the nail bed.

See also

• Aortic regurgitation
• Medical sign
• August Karl Gustav Bier

References

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