Purpura fulminans and adrenal hemorrhage due to group Y meningococcemia in an elderly woman.
A 70-year-old previously healthy woman was admitted with a 1-day history of malaise, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, rigors, and confusion. She was found to be in septic shock with purpura fulminans and disseminated intravascular coagulation. She died within 36 hours of admission. Blood cultures grew Neisseria meningitidis group Y. Necropsy revealed evidence of shock and bilateral adrenal hemorrhage.
Marnejon
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-1790.
Watanakunakorn
C
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011379:Prognosis; D011693:Purpura / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D014884:Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*