cause of blue toe
Causes of blue toe syndrome. There are several mechanisms for blue toe syndrome: Mechanical obstruction (secondary to emboli or atherosclerosis) or mechanical damage to blood vessels. By far, embolization is the most common cause of blue toes. The source of the emboli can be in atheromatous plaques or vascular aneurysms.
When arteries or small capillaries that provide blood to foot gets blocked, blood flow to fingers and other part of foot get diminished and ischemia sets in. This leads to cyanosis of fingers which looks bluish in color. Blue toe syndrome is caused by reduced blood flow to the fingers due to blockage in the vessels that provides blood to the foot. It is also know as purple toe syndrome and trash foot. Atherosclerosis, aneurysm can be the leading cause of this syndrome.