NEONATAL PURPURA FULMINANS DUE TO HOMOZYGOUS PROTEIN C DEFICIENCY

Severe and recurrent purpura fulminans developed in a Turkish boy at 1 week of age. Initial coagulation studies performed were compatible with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Subsequent investigations showed that the patient had homozygous and his healthy parents had heterozygous protein C deficiency. The episodes of purpura fulminans were controlled by infusions of fresh frozen plasma and heparinization. Oral anticoagulant therapy was given in the symptom-free period.     

Severe protein S deficiency associated with heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation in a child with purpura fulminans

Homozygous or compound heterozygous protein S (PS) deficiency is very rare in the population; only 8 patients from 6 different families have been reported. On the other hand, the factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation is a frequent cause of inherited prothrombotic disorder. Here the authors report a case of patient with severe PS deficiency associated with the FVL mutation who has had purpura fulminans since the age of 10 days. She is the first child of a consanguineous marriage. Her father is double heterozygous for PS deficiency and FVL mutation and has recurrent thrombosis. This is the first case of severe PS deficiency combined with the FVL mutation. This suggests the need for complete evaluation of patients with purpura fulminans for thrombotic factors.     

Purpura fulminans in a case of protein C deficiency

We report a case of protein C deficiency which presented with purpura fulminans. The inheritance of protein C deficiency is discussed and the importance of warfarin (Coumadin) treatment in this condition is emphasized.Abbreviations DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation - PT prothrombin time     

Postinfection purpura fulminans in a patient heterozygous for prothrombin G20210A and acquired protein S resistance

Purpura fulminans usually consists of large, often symmetrical, spreading ecchymosis, which may later develop into extensive areas of skin necrosis and peripheral gangrene. Postinfectious purpura fulminans associated with an autoantibody directed against protein S has been described. The interaction and the contribution of recently described mutations such as factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A to the development and progression of postinfectious purpura fulminans and venous thrombosis is not known. The authors describe a patient heterozygous for prothrombin G20210A who developed purpura fulminans and extensive venous thrombosis secondary to acquired protein S deficiency.     

Purpura fulminans in severe congenital protein C deficiency: Monitoring of treatment with protein C concentrate

This report describes the successful use of protein C concentrate to treat severe purpura fulminans in a homozygous protein C-deficient infant for 8 months until oral anticoagulation was initiated. While fresh frozen plasma was previously used in such cases to replace protein C in the acute phase, the availability of a monoclonal antibody purified protein C concentrate now allows specific replacement of protein C, avoiding problems of fluid overload. An occlusive-hydrocolloid bandage proved to be effective in local treatment of skin lesions. D-dimer, fibrin monomer, thrombin-antithrombin complex and prothrombin fragment 1+2 were useful markers in monitoring and optimizing protein C replacement therapy.     

Homozygous protein C deficiency—management with protein C concentrate

Abstract Two unrelated female infants with homozygous protein C (Pr C) deficiency are reported. Both are of U.K. Pakistani origin and in each case the parents are consanguinous. A previous sibling had died in each family. Both sets of parents were shown to be carriers. The concentration of Pr C in both infants was low at birth. Both developed necrotic skin lesions (purpura fulminans) and responded well to Pr C concentrate. Both are developing normally although one has visual impairment due to retinal artery thrombosis which occurred before treatment was commenced. Both infants are treated with intravenous Pr C concentrate administerd daily by the parents at home. Studies of the half-life of exogenous Pr C in one of the patients has shown an increase from 2.7 to 10.8 h during the course of treatment thus enabling it to be administered once daily while still maintaining effective plasma concentrations. In the other patient half-life has fluctuated but Pr C is also given once daily. This is the first report of this condition being treated in this way in the United Kingdom.Conclusion Infusion of Pr C is a safe and efficient way of treating infants with homozygous Pr C deficiency in the medium term.     

Management of neonatal purpura fulminans with severe protein C deficiency

Neonatal purpura fulminans is a life threatening clinical entity characterized by extensive subcutaneous thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation usually manifesting shortly after birth. We report an autosomal recessive form of the disease in a neonate who was diagnosed with compound heterozygosity for mutations in his protein C gene as the molecular basis of his disorder.     

Activated protein C concentrate reverses purpura fulminans in severe genetic protein C deficiency

Severe genetic protein C deficiency is rare and is associated with severe, often fatal thrombosis. The authors report the use of recombinant activated protein C (APC) to treat an episode of purpura fulminans (PF) in a teenage girl with severe protein C deficiency who had developed anaphylaxis to fresh-frozen plasma that was given in the past to treat recurrent episodes of PF. Concomitant with an infusion of APC, 20 microg/kg/h for 10 hours, a d-dimer level that was markedly positive (6,450 ng/mL) prior to the onset of PF decreased to 847 ng/mL following the APC. The teenager was treated with heparin along with warfarin for four days until the INR was more than 3.5 and the d-dimer level was less than 230 ng/mL. At the end of the APC infusion all skin lesions of PF were resolved. There were no adverse reactions to APC. APC was safe and effective for treatment of PF in severe genetic protein C deficiency.     

Renal vein thrombosis and response to therapy in a newborn due to protein C deficiency

A newborn infant was diagnosed as having renal vein thrombosis due to heterozygous protein C deficiency and no other predisposing factor for thrombosis. He responded adequately to treatment with streptokinase, fresh frozen plasma and subsequent anticoagulation with heparin and warfarin (Coumadin). Four years from diagnosis he remains well with no recurrence of thrombosis and with normal renal function.     

急性特发性血小板减少性紫癜患儿外周血T细胞蛋白激酶C活性的分析

目的探讨急性特发性血小板减少性紫癜(acuteidiopathicthrombocytopenicpurpura,AITP)患儿外周血T细胞蛋白激酶C(proteinkinaseC,PKC)的活性变化及其与T细胞活化和血小板减少程度之间的关系。方法无菌采集35例急性ITP患儿及30例正常儿童外周抗凝血,用T淋巴细胞分离富集柱法分离纯化T细胞,分别用非同位素标记法检测T细胞PKC的活性变化,用流式细胞仪检测T细胞活化标志FasL蛋白的表达,血细胞计数仪计数血小板。结果急性ITP患儿T细胞PKC的总活性与正常儿童相比明显增强[(0.97±0.21)nmol/(min.ml)、(0.55±0.13)nmol/(min.ml),P<0.01],T细胞活化标志FasL蛋白表达与正常儿童比较显著升高[ThFasL:(32.7±3.4)%、(14.7±4.2)%;TcFasL:(17.3±9.7)%、(11.6±8.5)%,P<0.01],并且T细胞PKC的活性变化与ThFasL、TcFasL的表达均呈显著正相关(r1=0.68,r2=0.53,P<0.05),与血小板计数呈显著负相关(r=-0.75,P<0.05)。结论急性ITP患儿外周血PKC活性增强可引起患儿T细胞的活化,活性T细胞增多可导致患儿血小板大量损伤,并引起临床症状,提示PKC信号传导在急性ITP的免疫病理机制中发挥重要作用。     

Varicella and thrombotic complications associated with transient protein C and protein S deficiencies in children

We report six cases of protein S deficiency secondary to varicella. Five cases were complicated by thrombotic and vascular events, namely purpura fulminans and necrotic vasculitis, deep vein thrombosis and stroke. Two cases were associated with protein C deficiency and one case revealed a heterozygous factor XII deficiency. The underlying mechanism of this acquired protein S deficiency is unclear but could be related to a direct effect of zoster virus.     

口服抗凝剂治疗以新生儿暴发性紫癜或颅内出血为首发表现的遗传性复合杂合突变的重度蛋白C缺乏症2例病例报告并文献复习

背景：既往国内报道的重度遗传性蛋白C缺乏症(PCD)患儿大多放弃救治而死亡。 目的：探索口服抗凝剂对重度PCD患儿的长期救治效果。 设计：病例报告。 方法：报道并分析2例新生儿期起病的遗传性复合杂合突变的重度PCD患儿的诊断、治疗及预后,检索PubMed、中国知网和万方数据库,行文献复习。 主要结局指标：血栓或出血缓解。 结果：1例首发表现为新生儿暴发性紫癜（PF）;1例因存在继发性慢性DIC,以新生儿颅内出血、肺出血为首发表现。2例经基因测序均明确蛋白C(PROC)基因复合杂合突变。每日应用新鲜冷冻血浆及低分子肝素抗凝获得初步缓解后,分别序贯口服维生素K拮抗剂华法林或直接口服抗凝剂利伐沙班作为长期治疗,预防血栓及出血事件,随访3~6年,2例均存活至今,生存质量尚好,且无明显不良反应。 结论：重度遗传性PCD可以新生儿PF、颅内出血和肺出血为首发表现,应改变观念积极救治;华法林和利伐沙班等口服抗凝剂可以作为长期维持治疗时安全有效的选择,改善预后。     

A case of purpura fulminans secondary to transient protein C deficiency as a complication of chickenpox infection

Purpura fulminans is a rare but dramatic disease which occurs most commonly during or after an infection. It is characterized by extensive involvement of the skin and extremities and involvement of visceral organs. Purpura fulminans, when occurring after a viral infection such as varicella, is usually characterized by purpuric lesions involving the trunk, usually with sparing of the visceral organs. In this report we describe a child with purpura fulminans due to a transient protein C deficiency as a complication of chickenpox infection. A seven-year-old girl developed bruise-like lesions on her extremities on the fifth day after eruption of varicella exanthem. She had no previous history of bleeding tendency or thrombosis. Family history was also negative. On the seventh day of her illness she was admitted to Marmara University Hospital with widespread echymotic an partially crusted chickenpox lesions. CBC, urinalysis and blood chemistries were within normal limits. She had a prolonged aPT and apt with low serum fibrinogen and high D-dimers suggestive disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Protein C activity was low. Punch skin biopsy was consistent with purpura fulminans. She was treated with heparin and fresh frozen plasma which helped her to recover clinically as well as hematologically. She was discharged with still low protein C activity that returned to normal by the next follow-up visit.     

Fulminant sepsis/meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae in a protein C-deficient heterozygote treated with activated protein C therapy

A 13-month-old Japanese female with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis presented with unusually severe septic shock and cerebral infarction in half a day of fever. The initial therapy of plasma-derived activated protein C (Anact C) led to an impressive effect on the aggressive condition. However, purpura fulminans and the consistent decline of plasma protein C activity (<20%) required prolonged activated protein C therapy and gene analysis. The patient carried a novel heterozygous mutation of PROC (exon 4; 335 GAC>TAC, Asp46Tyr). This is the first report of infectious purpura fulminans in a protein C-deficient heterozygote. The clinical onset and treatment course adequately corroborated the aggravated immune/hemostatic reactions and the cytoprotective effects of activated protein C replacement in human heterozygous protein C deficiency. The monitoring of plasma protein C activity and sufficient administration of activated protein C product could improve the outcome of severe sepsis in children.     

Diagnosis and treatment of a newborn with homozygous protein C deficiency

The case is reported of a seriously affected newborn with homozygous protein C deficiency who developed neonatal purpura fulminans. Foetal ultrasound at 33 wk of gestation revealed ventriculomegaly. The first lesions appeared on the scalp 48 h after birth. She was initially treated with fresh-frozen plasma and, after the diagnosis was confirmed, with purified protein C concentrate. After skin necrosis had healed, therapy was continued with oral warfarin. The infant was homozygous for protein C W380G mutation. Diagnosis at the DNA level gave the parents an option of reliable prenatal diagnosis in their subsequent pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Difficulties in reaching an accurate diagnosis are discussed since early diagnosis and urgent therapy with protein C replacement are crucial to avoid further damage after delivery.     

Treatment of acute infectious purpura fulminans with activated protein C

Infectious purpura fulminans is associated with high mortality and morbidity despite standard antimicrobial therapy. We report satisfactory clinical outcome in two children with sepsis associated purpura fulminans who were treated with activated protein C (APC). There is need for proper evaluation of the efficacy of this extremely expensive therapeutic modality by randomized controlled trials before it is made standard of care in childhood infectious purpura fulminans.