purpura - Classification

A condition in which there is spontaneous bleeding into the skin or mucous membranes, giving rise to small scattered areas of bruising. It has many causes, including damage to small blood vessels, disorders of blood platelets, and defects in blood clotting.

Purpura
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10	D69
ICD-9	287

Purpura is the appearance of red or purple discolorations on the skin, caused by bleeding underneath the skin.

Classification

Purpura is a common and unspecific symptom, however the underlying mechanism commonly involves one of the following:

Platelet disorders Primary thrombocytopenic purpura Secondary thrombocytopenic purpura Vascular disorders Microvascular injury, as seen in senile (old age) purpura, when blood vessels are more easily damaged Hypertensive states Deficient vascular support Vasculitis, as in the case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura Coagulation disorders Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

There are also cases of psychogenic purpura described in the medical literature, some due to autoerythrocyte sensitization.