[Dupuytren's contracture and palmar erythema in alcoholic cirrhosis].

Three comparable groups were studied : 100 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 100 alcoholics without cirrhosis, and 100 subjects without either alcoholism or cirrhosis. Dupuytren's contracture was noted in 43% of cases in group I, 34% in group 2, and in 14% of group 3. There was no parallel between the frequency of Dupuytren's contracture and the severity of the liver involvement. Palmar erythema was noted in 34% of cases of group 1, 23% of cases of group 2, 12% of cases of group 3. Dupuytren's contracture has a genetic background, but its clinical expression is facilitated by metabolic causes, the most frequent being chronic alcoholism. Palmar erythema appears to be a sign of severe liver disease.