Case of purpura fulminans due to septicemia after artificial abortion

J Dermatol. 2007 Nov;34(11):786-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2007.00385.x.

Abstract

We describe a case of purpura fulminans due to septicemia after artificial abortion. Our patient suffered purpuric progressive skin necrosis on the back, extremities and buttock. Rhabdomyolysis involvement was confirmed by high level of creatinine phosphokinase and appearance of much brownish discharge from necrotic gluteal muscle and latissimus dorsi muscle. Amputation of both feet and second, third, fourth and fifth fingers of the right hand was performed. The buttock lesion was reconstructed with the posterolateral thigh V-Y flap after debridement. Other lesions were covered with split-thickness skin grafts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced*
  • Adult
  • Bacteremia / etiology*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Buttocks / pathology
  • Buttocks / surgery
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / etiology*
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / pathology
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Extremities / pathology
  • Extremities / surgery
  • Female
  • Gangrene / etiology
  • Gangrene / pathology
  • Gangrene / surgery
  • Humans
  • Postoperative Complications* / microbiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Purpura / etiology*
  • Purpura / pathology