Acute arterial thrombotic purpura complicating varicella and the role of hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunctive therapy

• Published in: Turkish journal of pediatrics Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 256 - 258
• Main Authors: Siraneci, Rengin, Hatipoğlu, Nevin, Hatipoğlu, Hüsem, Dündar, Kadir, Baygin, Leyla, Yildiz, Canan, Türel, Ozden
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey 01.07.2004
• Subjects: Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Chickenpox - complications; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight - therapeutic use; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Infant; Male; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic - complications; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic - therapy
• ISSN: 0041-4301

Chickenpox is a common infectious disease of the pediatric age group with rare complications such as hemorrhagic varicella and arterial thrombotic purpura. Medical support is the mainstay of treatment in such cases but for the rescue of necrotic tissues, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy should be applied in addition to anticoagulant intervention. We report an infant with acute arterial thrombotic purpura which developed after varicella eruption and who made full recovery with the help of HBO as an adjunctive treatment modality. Fresh frozen plasma and low molecular weight heparin were given for prolonged prothrombin time and thromboemboli on the 2nd-4th digits of his right foot. Protein C, protein S and factor V levels were found to be normal in our patient. Necrotic lesions on the toes regressed with repeated HBO treatment and amputation was not needed.