[Purpura fulminans].

Purpura Fulminans is an unusual condition, characterized by rapid progression, high systemic toxicity and great mortality. The clinical history of a girl aged 3 years and 6 months is presented. She was hospitalized in an Infectious Diseases Unit, from February 6 to March 3, 1981. Her illness began two days prior to admission, with fever, cpistaxis, moderate postration, violet -coloured lesions on the skin of the nasogenian region, right leg and both buttocks. She was convalescent from varicella, which started 3 weeks before admission. Laboratory was consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Purpura Fulminans was diagnosed, and treatment with intravenous heparine, corticosteroids and antibiotics was used to control her disease. The purpuric lesions progressed towards necrosis, making necessary a surgical amputation of two thirds of her right leg. Apropos of this case the current concepts on etiology, clinical picture, pathogenic factors, pathologic anatomy, laboratory diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.