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retiform purpura
Etiology:
- vasculitis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- polyarteritis nodosa
- granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- cyroglobulinemia
- scleroderma
- thrombosis
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome
- antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- thrombophilia
- myeloproliferative disorders
- embolism
- fat emboli
- cholesterol emboli after intravascular procedure
- septic emboli
- endocarditis
- atrial myxoma
- calciphylaxis
- infection
- meningococcemia
- angioinvasive mycoses
- ecthyma gangrenosum
- necrotizing fasciitis
- pharmaceuticals
- heparin
- warfarin
- levamisole-adulterated cocaine
Pathology:
- total occlusion of cutaneous arterioles with resultant necrosis & hemorrhage in the watershed area of the artery
- occlusion of adjacent vessels may result in purpura & necrosis, especially of digits, ears, genitals
Clinical manifestations:
- retiform purpura describes the netlike configuration of leakage from the skin vasculature
Special laboratory:
- skin biopsy
Management:
- consider thrombotic & embolic causes 1st
General
purpura; retiform purpura
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 18,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2018