Abstract
A middle-aged woman presented from an outside hospital with a diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis and meningococcemia. A nonpalpable purpuric skin rash evolved into multiple wounds,
with gradual necrosis of bilateral lower and upper extremities. Throughout the course
of hospitalization, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia, normocytic anemia,
thrombocytosis, Clostridium difficile infection, depression, and transient right eye blindness. The finding of decreased
CH50 in the complement cascade was considered as the potential cause of the meningococcemia.
The subsequent ischemia and necrosis of extremities were attributed to the systemic
effect and trauma ensuing from N. meningitidis.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 12, 2010
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
