Case report
Purpura fulminans

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Abstract

Purpura fulminans is a rare disease characterized by cutaneous ecchymosis, hypotension and fever associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. It usually follows a preparatory infectious illness. A case in a 55 year old woman challenges the concept that this disease is limited to childhood. A review of 100 case reports is presented in which the often quoted high mortality of 90 per cent is found to be no longer tenable.

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    Present address: 3480 East 3020 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109.

    1

    From the Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 29th and Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66103.

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