Any of a group of disorders characterized by purplish or reddishbrown areas or spots of discoloration, caused by bleeding within skin or mucous membranes. Purpura also refers to the discoloured areas themselves.
There are many different types and causes of purpura.
Common (senile) purpura mostly affects middle-aged or elderly women.
Large discoloured areas, caused by thinning of the tissues supporting blood vessels under the skin, appear on the thighs or the back of the hands and forearms.
Henoch–Schönlein purpura is caused by inflammation of blood vessels beneath the skin.
Purpura can also occur as a result of thrombocytopenia.
In addition, it can be associated with septicaemia and can be seen with meningitis (see glass test).
A skin rash caused by bleeding into the skin from capillary blood vessels. The discrete purple spots of the rash are called purpuric spots or, if very small, petechiae. The disorder may be caused by capillary defects (nonthrombocytopenic purpura) or be due to a de?ciency of PLATELETS in the blood (thrombocytopenic purpura). Most worryingly, the rash may be due to a fulminant form of meningococcal SEPTICAEMIA called purpura fulminans. (See also HENOCH-SCHÖNLEIN PURPURA; IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA (ITP); THROMBOCYTOPENIA.).
n. a skin rash resulting from bleeding into the skin from small blood vessels (capillaries); the individual purple spots of the rash are called petechiae. Purpura may be due either to defects in the capillaries (nonthrombocytopenic purpura) or to a deficiency of blood platelets (thrombocytopenic purpura). See Henoch–Schönlein purpura; idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; thrombocytopenia; thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
This is an in?ammatory condition of the small blood vessels, the cause of which is not known but may be an allergic response to food or drugs. Most common among young children, the in?ammation causes blood to leak into joints, kidneys, intestine and skin. The child presents with a purpuric rash and stomach pains which may come and go for weeks. Paracetamol alone is often su?cient to alleviate the condition, but severely ill patients may need corticosteroid drugs. All sufferers need follow-up for 12 months to ensure that they have not developed kidney disease.... henoch-schönlein purpura
Sometimes described as thrombocytopenia, this is an autoimmune disorder in which blood PLATELETS are destroyed. This disturbs the blood’s coagulative properties (see COAGULATION) and spontaneous bleeding (PURPURA) occurs into the skin. The disease may be acute in children but most recover without treatment. Adults may develop a more serious, chronic variety which requires treatment with CORTICOSTEROIDS and sometimes SPLENECTOMY. Should the disease persist despite these treatments, intravenous immunoglobulin or immunosuppressive drugs (see IMMUNOSUPPRESSION) are worth trying. Should the bleeding be or become life-threatening, concentrates of platelets should be administered.... idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (itp)
(Schönlein–Henoch purpura, anaphylactoid purpura) a common, and frequently recurrent, form of *purpura found especially (but not exclusively) in young children. It is characterized by red weals and a purple rash on the buttocks and lower legs due to bleeding into the skin from inflamed capillaries, together with arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms, and (in some cases) nephritis. Glucocorticoids are often used for treatment. [E. H. Henoch (1820–1910), German paediatrician; J. L. Schönlein (1793–1864), German physician]... henoch–schönlein purpura
(ITP) an *autoimmune disease in which platelets are destroyed, leading to spontaneous bruising (see purpura). Acute ITP is a relatively mild disease of children, who usually recover without treatment. A chronic form of the disease, typically affecting adults, is more serious, requiring treatment with corticosteroids or, if there is no response, with splenectomy. If both fail, immunosuppressant drugs may be effective. Platelet concentrates are used for life-threatening bleeding.... idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
(TTP) a rare disorder of coagulation caused by deficiency or inhibition of *ADAMTS13, a protein that is responsible for breaking down von Willebrand factor (see von Willebrand’s disease). This results in haemolytic *anaemia, *thrombocytopenia, and fluctuating neurological abnormalities. It is treated by *plasmapheresis.... thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
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