Purpura: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Purpura is purple-colored spots and patches that occur on the skin, and in mucus membranes, including the lining of the mouth.

T Considerations
P Purpura occurs when small blood vessels leak blood under the skin.
P Purpura measure between 4 and 10 mm (millimeters) in diameter. When purpura spots are less than 4 mm in diameter, they are called petechiae. Purpura spots larger than 1 cm (centimeter) are called ecchymoses.
P Platelets help the blood clot. A person with purpura may have normal platelet counts (non-thrombocytopenic purpuras) or low platelet counts (thrombocytopenic purpuras).

T Causes
P Non-thrombocytopenic purpuras may be due to:
- Amyloidosis (disorder in which abnormal proteins build up in tissues and organs)
- Blood clotting disorders
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (condition in which an infant is infected with a virus called cytomegalovirus before birth)
- Congenital rubella syndrome
- Drugs that affect platelet function or clotting factors
- Fragile blood vessels seen in older people (senile purpura)
- Hemangioma (abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs)
- Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis), such as Henoch-Schönlein purpura, which causes a raised type of purpura
- Pressure changes that occur during vaginal childbirth
- Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency)
- Steroid use
- Certain infections
- Injury
P Thrombocytopenic purpura may be due to:
- Drugs that reduce the platelet count
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (a bleeding disorder)
- Immune neonatal thrombocytopenia (can occur in infants whose mothers have ITP)
- Meningococcemia (bloodstream infection)

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have signs of purpura.

T What to Expect at Your Office Visit
P The provider will examine your skin and ask about your medical history and symptoms, including:
- Is this the first time you have had such spots?
- When did they develop?
- What color are they?
- Do they look like bruises?
- What medicines do you take?
- What other medical problems have you had?
- Does anyone in your family have similar spots?
- What other symptoms do you have?
P A skin biopsy may be done. Blood and urine tests may be ordered to determine the cause of the purpura.

T Alternative Names
P Blood spots; Skin hemorrhages

T Images
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura on the lower legs
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's foot
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's legs
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's legs
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura on the legs
- Meningococcemia on the calves
- Meningococcemia on the leg
- Rocky mountain spotted fever on the foot
- Meningococcemia associated purpura

T References
P Kitchens CS. Purpura and other hematovascular disorders. In: Kitchens CS, Kessler CM, Konkle BA, eds. Consultative Hemostasis and Thrombosis. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 11.
P Marks JG, Miller JJ. Purpura. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 17.

T Review Date 4/14/2017
P Updated by: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

