Reversal of gangrenous lesions in the blue toe syndrome with lovastatin--a case report.

A seventy-six-year-old man with ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic renal failure developed bilateral cyanotic toes, which upon muscle biopsy, were shown to be caused by atheromatous emboli. The probable source was atheromatosis of the abdominal aorta. The toes became gangrenous, but surgical therapy was deferred because the patient was considered a high risk. With lovastatin therapy there was complete healing and except for transient cyanosis related to temporary cessation of therapy, there has been no recurrence for the past thirty months. The possible role of lovastatin in the conservative treatment of this disorder is discussed.