purpura

views updated May 11 2018

pur·pu·ra / ˈpərp(y)ərə/ • n. Med. a rash of purple spots on the skin caused by internal bleeding from small blood vessels. ∎  any of a number of diseases characterized by such a rash: psychogenic purpura.DERIVATIVES: pur·pu·ric / pərˈpyoŏrik/ adj.

purpura

views updated May 29 2018

purpura (per-pew-ră) n. a skin rash resulting from bleeding into the skin from blood capillaries; the rash is made up of individual purple spots (see petechiae). Purpura may be due either to defects in the blood capillaries (nonthrombocytopenic p.) or to a deficiency of blood platelets (thrombocytopenic p.). idiopathic thrombocytopenic p. an autoimmune disease in which the platelets are destroyed, leading to spontaneous bruising. A mild acute form affects children; a more serious chronic form typically affects adults. See also thrombocytopenia, Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

purpura

views updated May 14 2018

purpura Purplish patches on the skin due to seepage of blood from underlying vessels. Physical injury, vitamin deficiencies, some allergies and certain drugs are among the causes.

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