title: Pneumococcal sepsis-induced purpura fulminans in an asplenic adult patient without disseminated intravascular coagulation.
abstract: Acute perturbations in the hemostatic balance of anticoagulation and procoagulation antecede the manifestation of purpura fulminans, a rare syndrome of intravascular thrombosis and hemorrhagic infarction of the skin. Hallmarks include small vessel thrombosis, tissue necrosis and disseminated intravascular thrombosis. The course may be rapidly fulminant resulting in multiorgan failure with thrombotic occlusion of the vasculature, leading to distal extremity ischemia and necrosis. Depletion of protein C (PC) has been emphasized in the pathogenesis. Early intravenous antibiotic administration and hemodynamic support are cornerstones in management. Herein, we report a case of pneumococcal sepsis-induced purpura fulminans limited to the skin in an asplenic adult patient without the development disseminated intravascular coagulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (CS), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (DSL), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwed-Lustgarten
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055665:Purpura Fulminans / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013156:Splenectomy; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone