Morvan's Disease
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Morvan's disease is a historical term for a specific trophic disorder of the hands characterized by loss of sensation and the development of multiple painless whitlows. While originally described as an independent condition, it is now recognized as a manifestation of syringomyelia.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
MORVAN'S DISEASE (Morvan), a peculiar trophic change of the hands, described by Morvan in 1883 (paresie analgesique a panaris des extremites superieures) as an independent disease; it is characterized by a disturbance of all types of cutaneous sensitivity and the formation of multiple whitlows (panaritium analgicum). Deep trophic disorders gradually affect the phalangeal bones, and the fingers fall off; at the same time, the skin thickens and becomes
calloused and cyanotic.
Morvan's disease is essentially one of the constituent parts of the symptom complex of syringomyelia, and not an independent disease (Gowers called this disease syringomyelia with peripheral neuritis). However, one should not consider the Morvan symptom complex merely as a later manifestation of central spinal gliosis, supposedly indicating the severity and extent of the pathogenetic focus. Central gliosis, like all processes arising on the basis of developmental anomalies, does not differ in the topical constancy and stereotypy of its symptoms. See Syringomyelia.
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Cite this page
“Morvan's Disease.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.com/article/morvans-disease/