The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2009 , Vol 51 , Num 4
Purpura Fulminans as the Presenting Manifestation in a
Patient with Juvenile SLE
Units of 1Pediatric Rheumatology and Nephrology, 3Pediatric Pathology, 4Pediatric Hematology, 2Department of
Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
We present a 12-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus and
associated antiphospholipid syndrome who developed an unusual manifestation
of purpura fulminans in an accelerated fashion. The patient improved after
prompt treatment with anticoagulants, aggressive immunosuppressive drugs
and plasmapheresis. This is the first pediatric case of purpura fulminans due
to secondary antiphospholipid syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus.
We suggest that SLE patients with lupus anticoagulant should be followed
closely for similar complications.
Keywords :
systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, purpura fulminans,
plasmapheresis.