Differential Diagnosis for Non-Palpable Purpura
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Vasculitis: This is often considered the most likely diagnosis for non-palpable purpura, particularly when it presents in a pattern suggestive of a systemic vasculitis, such as Henoch-Schönlein purpura. However, non-palpable purpura can also be seen in other forms of vasculitis.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Senile Purpura: Common in the elderly due to age-related changes in the skin and blood vessels, leading to easy bruising.
- Thrombocytopenia: A low platelet count can lead to purpura due to the inability of the blood to clot properly.
- Coagulopathy: Disorders affecting the coagulation cascade, such as hemophilia or liver disease, can cause purpura.
- Medication-Induced: Certain medications, like anticoagulants, can increase the risk of purpura.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Meningococcemia: A life-threatening infection that can cause purpura, which may initially be non-palpable but can evolve. Early recognition is crucial for survival.
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): A condition characterized by both widespread clotting and bleeding, which can present with purpura among other symptoms.
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): A rare disorder of the blood-coagulation system, causing extensive microscopic clots to form in the smallest blood vessels throughout the body.
Rare Diagnoses
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues, which can lead to easy bruising and purpura.
- Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE): A rare genetic disorder that causes mineralization and fragmentation of elastic fibers in some tissues, leading to skin manifestations including easy bruising.
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of amyloid (a particular type of protein) in various tissues of the body, which can cause purpura, especially when associated with bleeding or coagulation disorders.