title: Ulcerative colitis presenting as purpura fulminans.
abstract: A 60-year-old man presented with purpura fulminans involving his chest and flank. He was subsequently found to have active ulcerative colitis (UC) and protein S deficiency. He was treated with heparin and plasma, but because of persistent colitis and progressively worsening purpura, a total colectomy was performed on hospital day 17. This report describes an interesting case of purpura fulminans associated with the hypercoagulable state of active UC that responded dramatically to colectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kempton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagby
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*