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Journal Pre-Proof: Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
Journal Pre-Proof: Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
PII: S0190-9622(19)32672-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.07.112
Reference: YMJD 13788
Please cite this article as: Georgesen C, Fox LP, Harp J, Part I: Retiform Purpura: A Diagnostic
Approach, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2019), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.jaad.2019.07.112.
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Correspondence:
Corey Georgesen, MD
UPMC Dermatology
9000 Brooktree Rd, Suite 200
Wexford, PA, 15090
Fax: 724-933-1338
corey.georgesen@gmail.com
All authors have approved the manuscript in its final form, and we have no conflicts of interest
nor financial obligations to disclose.
Retiform purpura is a specific morphology within the spectrum of reticulate eruptions of vascular
origin. This morpology develops when blood vessels serving the skin are compromised resulting
in downstream cutaneous ischemia, purpura, and necrosis. Blood vessel compromise occurs by
mechanisms that lead to retiform purpura helps inform the differential diagnosis.1-3
Recognition of retiform purpura is paramount, especially in the acute or severely ill patient, as it
may elucidate the underlying diagnosis, provide prognostic information, and suggest a treatment
approach. The differential diagnosis of retiform purpura is vast, reflecting the myriad conditions
that can lead to cutaneous vessel wall damage or lumen occlusion. For example, a patient with
bacterial sepsis may develop direct bacterial angioinvasion, reactive leukocytoclastic vasculitis,
bacterial vaso-occlusive emboli, and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation, all of which can
present with retiform purpura, although each through a distinct mechanism. Herein we describe
workup, and highlight updates in treatment of some of the more common conditions that
2
We suggest the following clinical approach to the patient with retiform purpura:
This six-step approach is designed to guide the clinician towards a narrowed differential
diagnosis based on patient history and physical exam. However, it is important to note that most
(if not all) patients with new onset retiform purpura warrant a skin biopsy and laboratory
workup.
First, what does retiform purpura mean from a morphologic perspective? These lesions present
with a branching (reticular), non-blanching (purpuric) patch or plaque, which can occur
anywhere on the body or mucous membranes.3 Lesions of retiform purpura are persistent and
often accompanied by frank or impending central necrosis and/or ulceration. This contrasts with
3
other reticulate eruptions of vascular etiology including livedo reticularis and livedo racemosa.
Livedo reticularis4 results from only partial or intermittent reduction of cutaneous blood flow
leading to non-fixed, dusky patches forming complete rings reflecting the underlying cutaneous
vasculature. (Figure 1A) Livedo racemosa, which is representative of a more irregular and
significant reduction of blood flow, presents with broken rings that are persistent but rarely
Unlike livedo, retiform purpura does not display the net-like pattern of rings, but instead displays
branching at the periphery of a purpuric or necrotic center. Some authors have described it as
“river-like” or “serpentine purpura,” and others note that the lesions may appear as “puzzle
pieces” of livedo fit together.3 Lesions may be exquisitely painful reflecting the complete
obstruction of blood flow to the skin with resultant ischemia and necrosis.2 We have provided
representative lesions of retiform purpura (Figure 1A-D) to display the varied clinical
presentation of these lesions. With experience and pattern recognition, these lesions are often
immediately obvious.
Figures 2 summarizes the differential diagnosis of retiform purpura. When considering this vast
differential, we find that it is helpful to first consider (and then confirm with skin biopsy)
whether the disease pathology is within the vessel wall or the vessel lumen. If the disease
centers on the vessel wall, the differential diagnosis includes depositional diseases (such as
calciphylaxis6), angioinvasive organisms and vasculitides. While palpable purpura is the classic
manifestation of small vessel vasculitis, concomitant retiform purpura indicates that a medium
vessel component is also present. Thus, purely medium vessel vasculitides such as polyarteritis
4
nodosa7, in addition to small and medium mixed vessel vasculitides such as IgA vasculitis8 and
cryoglobulinemia9, can occasionally present with retiform purpura, though this is not the most
common presentation. On the other hand, if cutaneous histology reveals blockage of the vessel
cutaneous blood vessels can occur through a wide variety of mechanisms including
red and white blood cells (polycythemia vera, sickle cell anemia, intravascular lymphoma),
In an effort to narrow this wide differential diagnosis, some authors have recommended
purpura.2-3 “Inflammatory” retiform purpura refers to the clinical presence of erythema around
the lesion (accounting for a minimum of 2/3 of the lesion) with ≤ 1/3 of the lesion accounted for
with 2/3 central frank or impending necrosis and ≤ 1/3 surrounding erythema and suggests an
occlusive process. While this clinical categorization can be helpful in many cases, it is important
to note that significant overlap exists. In addition, a few select diseases, i.e. cryoglobulinema,
sepsis, and levamisole associated retiform purpura, may have both vasculitic and thrombotic
5
strategized laboratory and pathologic evaluation (as detailed in subsequent sections of this
A final helpful clue when inspecting the morphology is the perceived acuity of the lesion. In a
patient with multiple lesions of varying stages with atrophie blanche-like scarring of older
lesions, one might surmise that skin lesions are resultant from a chronic, smoldering, intermittent
process such as liveoid vasculopathy18. (Figure 3) In contrast, a patient with new onset of many
lesions, all in a similar stage of development, may suggest a more acute, active process such as
purpura fulminans (Figure 4) or a medication induced processes such as warfarin induced skin
• Acute retiform purpura in a sick patient should prompt a search for serious and reversible
causes.
• It may be appropriate to send an initial battery of tests while awaiting skin biopsy results.
The next checkpoint is straightforward yet crucial. The clinician should briefly pause to consider
the overall health of the patient. If, for example, the patient is severely ill, the clinician must first
and foremost consider rapidly progressive, potentially fatal, and reversible causes. In many
cases, this will mean proceeding with an initial battery of tests and urgent skin biopsy prior to
6
In the emergent setting, when the patient presents with retiform purpura, fever, altered mental
status, organ failure, and/or septic shock, we suggest a workup as outlined in Figure 620-30. Of
course, workup should be discussed and followed with the intensivists, internists, and
appropriate consultants. The dermatologist should pursue an immediate skin biopsy for
hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and tissue culture and direct immunofluorescence when
appropriate. In the patient with systemic infection, tissue culture from the skin may identify the
offending organism and provide antimicrobial sensitivity data. Broad-spectrum antibacterial and
results. The clinician should review the patient’s labs including platelet count and coagulation
medications (newly started heparin or warfarin or drugs that can cause ANCA+ vasculitis) that
• Disseminated retiform purpura can encompass both infectious and non-infectious causes.
7
The anatomic distribution of retiform purpura can guide the clinician. (Figure 7) Some locations
are classic, such as the free cartilage of the ear in levamisole-induced purpura31-32 (Figure 8) and
Acral retiform purpura, especially on distal areas of the fingers and toes, should alert the
clinician toward a possible embolic cause or cold-associated disease. Acral lesions (retiform
eosinophil count suggest cholesterol emboli.34 (Figure 9) Patients with acral lesions and sepsis
Janeway lesions (nontender, small petechiae on the palms and soles), and Osler nodes (painful
types II and III associated with cutaneous vasculitis) favors acral areas, including the ears and the
In lesions occurring predominantly on the lower extremities, vasculitides may be higher on the
differential (especially if seen in conjunction with palpable purpura). If patients present with
small punched out ulcerations and atrophie blanche (indicating chronicity) on the shins and
dorsal feet, with a background of livedo, consider livedoid vascuopathy. In patients from
Mexico and the Caribbean with lepromatous leprosy, an additional consideration would be the
Lucio phenomenon.38-39
8
Purpuric lesions occurring on fatty areas of the abdomen and thighs might suggest warfarin or
heparin induced skin necrosis. Warfarin induced skin necrosis classically starts within the first
ten days of warfarin initiation (most often on days 3-5), when protein C levels hit nadir, and
Ecthyma gangrenosum40 and meningococcemia5,41 may present with acute disseminated lesions.
should be considered.
For all patients with retiform purpura, we suggest thinking through the following set of general
medical and family history questions, which should be specifically tailored to the location and
Additionally, small and medium vasculitis can be seen in the setting of Sjogren’s
9
syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Mixed cryoglobulinemia can be seen in the
nodosa5.
pneumoniae.59
10
e. Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is commonly associated with streptococcal
infection.5,10
f. Streptococcal and upper respiratory viral infections are associated with IgA
immunocompromised patients with signs of infection but who are not responding
3) Has the patient started any new medications or had exposure to illicit drugs?
occur within the first 3-5 and 7-10 days of initiation, respectively5
cardiac procedures.34
11
A comprehensive review of systems for the patient presenting with retiform purpura can be
found in Table 12,3,5, 15-17, 19, 43, 62-67. However, it must be emphasized that the review of systems
can (and should) be focused on entities highest on the differential diagnosis. For example, in the
patient with retiform purpura and deep vein thrombosis, be sure to ask about pulmonary
symptoms given concern for pulmonary embolism. In the patient from an endemic area, consider
strongyloides and ask about malaise, fatigue, and pulmonary or gastrointestinal symptoms. In
the patient with streptococcal infection, ask about abdominal pain, joint pain, and change in urine
color.
Finally, whenever vasculitis is suspected, systemic involvement must be ruled out with the
review of systems, in addition to the physical exam and laboratory workup. Systems affected by
ocular, head and neck (epistaxis, sinusitis), pulmonary (hemoptysis or chest pain), cardiac (chest
pain), abdominal (pain, diarrhea, melena), musculoskeletal (arthralgia), and renal (change in
urine color).2,7,17,43,63
• Full skin examination is important as obscured areas can have diagnostic clues.
12
As outlined, previous steps in this diagnostic algorithm involve assessing lesion morphology,
degree of inflammation, and location. A full physical examination is also essential to fully
evaluate the patient who presents with retiform purpura. The heart and lung examination as
performed by the intensivist should be reviewed for associated findings (the murmur of bacterial
endocarditis, friction rub of pericarditis, rales of interstitial lung disease, etc.) A musculoskeletal
exam should be performed. Muscles strength should be assessed with an emphasis on the pelvic
The final step in the diagnostic algorithm is a complete and thorough skin examination. A
myriad cutaneous exam findings can give support to the suspected diagnosis.
Going (anatomically) from top to bottom, the physician should start in the scalp, looking for any
sign of scarring alopecia as may be associated with connective tissue disease. The conchal bowls
can be examined for signs of chronic cutaneous lupus. All mucous membranes should be
intravascular coagulation.71 The nares deserve inspection, as nasal polyps and angioinvasive
fungi (mucormycosis) can be obvious without endoscopy. The oral mucosa should be carefully
examined for signs of ulceration, purpura, or xerostomia. Additionally, the clinician can look for
The dermatologist should perform a full skin exam of the trunk, extremities, and genitals. The
patient should be repositioned when necessary to observe obscured areas. No area should be
neglected; areas under chest leads, adhesives, and surrounding I.V. sites must be examined, as
13
diagnostic lesions may otherwise remain concealed. (Figure 10) These are also potential sites of
Finally, the nails deserve close inspection. Koilonychia, or spoon nails, can be observed in
anemia that is associated with malignancy, autoimmune, or other chronic disease.76 Lindsay’s
nails, or half and half nails, may be associated with chronic renal disease.77 Terry’s nails are
associated with cirrhosis as can be seen in hepatitis C.78 Muehrcke’s nails, which present as
parallel lines of blanchable leukonychia (pathology of the nail bed), are associated with low
protein states such as nephrotic syndrome or liver disease.79 The proximal nailfold should be
inspected for the presence of vascular dropout, meandering and dilated vessels, or frayed cuticles
(Samitz sign80), which can signify the presence of autoimmune connective tissue disease.81-83
Finally, in the immunocompromised patient, nails should be inspected for inflammation and
subungual discoloration, as fusarium and other angioinvasive organisms can disseminate from a
pathology.
• Laboratory evaluation will vary and is dependent upon previous steps detailed in the
diagnostic algorithm.
14
Now the clinician is prepared to complete the diagnostic workup by performing a biopsy for
H&E (plus tissue culture and/or direct immunofluorescence as deemed appropriate) and
Biopsy should be collected at the peripheral purpuric rim of the lesion. When hemorrhagic
bullae are present, as is often the case in bacterial and fungal sepsis, fluid can be obtained for
bacterial culture and the blister roof should be scraped for potassium hydroxide examination. In
other cases, biopsy specimens can be smeared on a glass slide for touch preparation, as described
by other authors.86 Finally, in patients with suspected infection, consider obtaining a second
The differential diagnosis of retiform purpura informs the laboratory evaluation. The extent and
timing of laboratory work up will vary depending on the acuity of the skin manifestations, the
overall health of the patient, and any relevant history and physical exam findings that may
narrow the differential. If the patient is severely or acutely ill, it may be reasonable to send many
tests immediately to try to narrow the differential while biopsy results are pending. If skin
lesions are more chronic and/or stable, it may be preferable to await biopsy results, confirm if the
pathology is in the vessel wall or lumen, and then work through the evaluation based on a
113,5,15-17, 19,22,27,34,4363-64,88.
Prompt treatment should follow. Part II of this CME will detail these steps in relation to four of
15
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Figure Legends.
Figure 1. (a) Livedo reticularis: Note the presence of complete rings. These are transient and
often temperature related. (b) Livedo racemosa: Note the presence of broken, irregular, fixed
rings.
Figure 2. Retiform purpura in a patient with (a) calciphylaxis, (b) septic vasculitis, (c) IgA
Figure 5. Pupura fulminans in presenting patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
30
Figure 10. Retiform purpura in the setting of cholesterol emboli following cardiac
catheterization.
A 6-year old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented with retiform purpura (a) next to an
A 52-year-old with in septic shock presents with a purpuric patch (c-d) under a chest lead. While
not retiform in this photograph, systemic fungal infections can sometimes present with retiform
31
System Symptom Associations
conjunctival
hemorrhage (red
Ocular eye) hemoglobinopathies, TTP, HUS, DIC, connective tissue disease
hearing change,
Ear tinnitus vasculitis (ANCA, leukemic, septic, cryoglobulinemia)
Nose epistaxis vasculitis (polyangitis with granulomatosis), thrombocytopenia (TTP, HUS, DIC)
sinusitis eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis
Cardiovascular chest pain connective tissue disease (carditis), cardiomyopathy (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis)
renal disease (calciphylaxis), liver disease (cryoglobulinemia, IgA vasculitis),deep venous thrombosis
edema (hypercoagulative state, antiphospholipid syndrome)
calf pain deep venous thrombosis (hypercoagulative state, antiphospholipid syndrome)
vasculitis (IgA, cryoglobulinemia, leukemic), bowel infarcation (hypercoagulable state, embolus, DIC),
Gastrointestinal pain malignant atrophic papulosis
melena vasculitis (IgA, cryoglobulinemia, leukemic)
lymphoma (leukemic vasculitis, cryoglobulinemia, intravascular lymphoma), malignancy (IgA
appetite change vasculitis), parasite (strongyloides)
vasculitis (IgA, ANCA, cryoglobulinemia), connective tissue disease (lupus, systemic sclerosis),
Genitourinary change in color paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
dysuria infection (urosepsis)