title: Purpura fulminans.
abstract: Purpura fulminans is a rare disease characterized by cutaneous ecchymosis, hypotension and fever associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. It usually follows a preparatory infectious illness. A case in a 55 year old woman challenges the concept that this disease is limited to childhood. A review of 100 case reports is presented in which the often quoted high mortality of 90 per cent is found to be no longer tenable.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D012541:Scarlet Fever / Q000150:complications; D012621:Seasons