Pathogenesis of meningococcal purpura fulminans

• Published in: Pathogens and disease Vol. 75; no. 3
• Main Authors: Lécuyer, Hervé, Borgel, Delphine, Nassif, Xavier, Coureuil, Mathieu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Bacterial infections; Bacteriology; Blood Coagulation; Endothelium; Gangrene; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Gram-negative bacteria; Hemorrhage; Host-Pathogen Interactions - genetics; Host-Pathogen Interactions - immunology; Human health and pathology; Humans; Infectious diseases; Lesions; Life Sciences; Meningococcal Infections - complications; Meningococcal Infections - immunology; Meningococcal Infections - microbiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Neisseria meningitidis - immunology; Pathogenesis; Purpura; Purpura Fulminans - blood; Purpura Fulminans - etiology; Skin; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; purpura fulminans; coagulation; Neisseria meningitidis
• ISSN: 2049-632X; 2049-632X
• DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftx027

Abstract Purpura fulminans (PF) is a dreadful and frequent complication of Neisseria meningitidis invasive infection, and is associated with a high mortality rate. This syndrome begins with dermal microvessels thrombosis that rapidly lead to hemorrhagic skin necrosis. In this review, we discuss the prothrombotic events occurring during meningococcal infection. Moreover, recent data from an experimental mouse model have highlighted the critical role of the meningococcus adhesion to the endothelium in the development of PF lesions, thus opening new therapeutic perspectives. A comprehensive review about coagulation dysregulation during meningoccemia and the pathogenesis of purpura fulminans.