Purpura fulminans in sepsis.

Sepsis-induced purpura fulminans is a rare but life-threatening disorder, characterized by hemorrhagic infarction of the skin caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation and dermal vascular thrombosis. The pathogenesis is linked to enhanced expression of the natural procoagulants and depletion of the natural anticoagulant proteins particularly protein C. Meningococcal sepsis is the most common cause, followed by pneumococcal sepsis in adults.