Quincke's sign

Quincke's Sign is a medical symptom named after the German physician Heinrich Quincke, who first described it in the late 19th century. It is a clinical sign observed in patients with aortic insufficiency, a condition where the aortic valve in the heart does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow back into the left ventricle.

Definition[edit | edit source]

Quincke's Sign is characterized by a visible pulsation of the capillaries in the nail bed that can be seen when pressure is applied to the fingertips. This pulsation is synchronous with the heartbeat and is indicative of a significant volume of regurgitant blood flow in the aorta.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The presence of Quincke's Sign is a significant clinical finding in the diagnosis of aortic insufficiency. It is one of several physical signs that can be observed in a patient with this condition, along with Corrigan's pulse, De Musset's sign, and Duroziez's sign. However, it is not specific to aortic insufficiency and can also be seen in other conditions associated with increased blood flow to the peripheries, such as thyrotoxicosis and anemia.

History[edit | edit source]

Quincke's Sign is named after Heinrich Quincke, a German physician who made significant contributions to the field of internal medicine in the late 19th century. Quincke is also known for his work on lumbar puncture, a procedure he introduced for the diagnosis and treatment of meningitis.