Chronic Progressive Pigmentary Purpura

Abstract

SINCE 1896, there has been described, although almost exclusively in the dermatologic literature, a group of purpuric pigmented eruptions having variable clinical features with individual eponyms, but having similar histopathologic alterations. In two variants of this general disorder described successively by Majocchi^1-3and Schamberg,⁴the clinical and histologic findings are frequently so similar that differentiation is irrelevant. Accordingly, an inclusive designation of chronic pigmentary purpura has been proposed.⁵ Although a well-established entity in adult dermatology, chronic pigmentary purpura has been, to our knowledge, previously reported in preadolescent children only on four other occasions.^4,6-8It is important that this disorder be recognized and distinguished from other more serious purpuras of childhood. This report describes the clinical and pathologic findings of a case of chronic progressive pigmentary purpura occurring in a young boy. Report of a Case The patient, a white boy presently 12 years old, initially presented