Purpura fulminans néonatal sans sepsis par déficit congénital sévère en protéine C

Abstract

Severe congenital protein C deficiency is a rare life-threatening coagulopathy. In the early hours of life, the neonate presents with extensive purpura fulminans and substantial skin necrosis contrasting with a preserved general state and a negative infectious exam. Disseminated intravascular coagulation sets in secondarily. Prenatal outset of thrombotic events is a rare situation that worsens the prognosis, especially protein C replacement in utero is not available. We report a case of a male newborn of consanguineous parents who were asymptomatic carriers of heterozygous protein C deficiency. This infant presented prenatal ventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus and rapidly extensive postnatal skin necrosis that was not regressive in spite of fresh frozen plasma administrated after 24h of life. Prenatal diagnosis, early recognition, and urgent therapy with protein C replacement and anticoagulant treatment are crucial to improve the prognosis, avoid further damage after delivery, and prevent the devastating consequences of severe protein C deficiency.