Grierson-Gopalan Syndrome

Original Editors - Habibu Salisu Badamasi

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Introduction

Grierson-Goepalan Syndrome, also known as "Burning feet syndrome (BFS)", is characterized by burning and heaviness in the feet and lower extremities. Grierson-Gopalan syndrome was first described by Grierson, in 1826, the earliest to document such a symptom, but Gopalan later gave a detailed description in 1946.

Clinical features

BFS is most common in those over 50 years, although it can occur in any age group and mostly reported in Asian and Far East countries during a hot summer. The symptoms characterized by a burning sensation, heaviness, numbness, or a dull ache in the feet and occasionally complain of ‘pins and needles’ or tingling in the lower extremities. The burning may be limited to the sole of the feet but may ascend to involve the dorsum, ankles or lower legs.

The skin and blood vessels are normal in most while in some patients there may be accompanying erythema of the feet with warm overlying skin as in erythromelalgia. There is no local tenderness over the affected parts. Neurological examination is essentially normal in most patients.There are no signs of upper motor neuron involvement such as extensor plantars or increased tone. Motor power is maintained and there is no atrophy or wasting of the overlying muscles.

Causes of BFS

Nutritional	Metabolic/endocrinal	Hereditary	Mechanical (entrapment neuropathies)	Others
Vitamin B deficiency Malabsorption syndrome Chronic alcoholism	Diabetes mellitus Renal failure (dialysis patients) Hypothyroidism	Autosomal dominant BFS	Tarsal tunnel syndrome Traumatic nerve compression	Erythromelalgia Chronic mountain sickness Gitelman syndrome Leishmaniasis Multiple sclerosis Psychosomatic Miscellaneous Idiopathic