Neonatal purpura fulminans due to protein C deficiency

A 3-day-old term male neonate born of third-degree consanguineous marriage was admitted with purplish black, oval tender lesions with erythematous rim on both soles and left hip. He was normothermic, haemodynamically stable and feeding well. However, new gangrenous lesions appeared on his fingers soon after admission. C-reactive protein was negative. Complete blood count revealed a platelet count of 73 000/mm3 with normal haematocrit and leucocyte count. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged (PT: 26 s; INR: 2.03; aPTT>100 s). Plasma protein C activity was detected to be markedly low (3%, reference range: 31%–112%). His mother had a history of cortical vein thrombosis during the previous pregnancy when her protein C activity had also been detected to be low (28%) (figures 1–3). Purpura fulminans (PF) is a catastrophic disease of childhood characterised by the sudden appearance of symmetrical, tender, ecchymotic skin lesions usually involving...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition - Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Tags: Journalology, Genetic screening / counselling, Immunology (including allergy), Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Pregnancy, Reproductive medicine, Competing interests (ethics) Images in neonatal medicine Source Type: research