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Pigmented Purpuric Dermatoses

The pigmented purpuric dermatoses form a group of chronic skin diseases with a characteristic appearance.
The aetiology is unknown but they tend to affect the lower limb and there is extravasation of erythrocytes in the
skin with marked deposition of haemosiderin [1] .

There are a number of clinical patterns but all with a similar histological appearance. Generally, the treatment and
prognosis are similar. The pigmented purpuric dermatoses include [2] :

Schamberg's disease (progressive pigmentary dermatosis).

Eczematoid-like purpura of Doucas and Kapetanakis.
Majocchi's disease (purpura annularis telangiectodes).
Pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatosis of Gougerot and Blum.
Lichen aureus.
Itching purpura.

Many consider itching purpura and eczematoid-like purpura to be variants of Schamberg's disease.

Pathophysiology
The aetiology is unknown but important contributory factors include venous hypertension, exercise and
gravitational dependency [2] . Histology shows a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate of T cells centred on the
superficial small blood vessels of the skin, suggesting that cell-mediated immunity plays a part [3] . There is
swelling of endothelial cells and narrowing of the lumen. Extravasation of red blood cells occurs with marked
deposition of haemosiderin in macrophages, and a rare granulomatous variant of chronic pigmented dermatosis
has been reported.

Epidemiology
The conditions are uncommon. Generally they affect males more than females, except in Majocchi's disease.
There is no racial difference in incidence.

Schamberg's disease occurs at any age.

Itching purpura and the dermatosis of Gougerot and Blum typically affect middle-aged men.
Majocchi's disease occurs mostly in children or in young adults.
Lichen aureus occurs mostly in young adults but rare cases affecting children have been reported [4] .
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Both Schamberg's disease and Majocchi's disease have rarely been reported in families, suggesting a genetic
aetiology or predisposition. It may be autosomal dominant [5] .

Risk factors
Some forms of the pigmented purpuric dermatoses are associated with the ingestion of drugs, including non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, sedatives, antihypertensives, drugs with antihistaminic properties and lipid-
lowering agents [6] . Cases associated with sildenafil and isotretinoin have been reported [7, 8] . Lichen aureus may
be associated with trauma.

Types of pigmented purpuric dermatoses

Schamberg's disease
Schamberg's disease is the most common form of pigmented purpura and is the most common
cause of petechiae in children. It is most commonly seen in the late teens and early 20s, although it
has been diagnosed in children aged between 1 and 9 years [9] . It is more common in males than in
females, although a report of children included three boys and ten girls.

See see separate Schamberg's disease article for further details.

Eczematoid-like purpura of Doucas and Kapetanakis

This disorder is similar to Schamberg's disease but occurs predominantly in adult males.
The lesions, which may be itchy, commonly begin on the lower legs and progress to the thighs, trunk
and upper limbs.
It is a chronic relapsing disorder which may remit spontaneously.
Lichenification may also be present due to chronic scratching of the pruritic lesions.

Majocchi's disease (purpura annularis telangiectodes)

Majocchi's disease typically presents with annular erythematous plaques and patches which have
central areas of atrophy, commonly in a symmetrical distribution on the lower limbs but occasionally
on the trunk and upper limbs.
Girls are more often affected than boys, most often in adolescence or early adulthood.
Despite a chronic relapsing course which lasts several years, the disorder is benign and self-limiting
and treatment is neither effective nor required.
It is associated with haematological conditions and rarely T-cell cutaneous lymphoma [10] .

Pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatosis of Gougerot and Blum

This condition is extremely similar to Majocchi's disease but presents in adults (usually men) and is not seen in
children.

Lichen aureus
Lichen aureus, as its name suggests, presents with yellowish or red papules or patches which may
either itch or be asymptomatic.
The lesions frequently occur bilaterally on the lower limbs, although can be unilateral and may affect
the trunk and upper limbs [11] .
Unlike the other forms of pigmented purpuric eruptions, the lesions of lichen aureus may also occur in
a dermatomal distribution, or can follow the distribution of veins or arteries.
It is thought that it may sometimes be associated with trauma but it does not appear to be associated
with the ingestion of drugs.
Once again, although the lesions may be cleared using oral corticosteroids, the risks of treatment
outweigh the benefits, as it follows a benign course.

Differential diagnosis
Despite the distinctive appearance of the lesions, several other conditions must be considered as a differential
diagnosis, including:
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T-cell lymphoma.
Self-induced haematomas.
Scurvy.
Benign hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura of Waldenström.
Drug eruptions.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
Kawasaki disease.
Thrombocytopenia.

Investigations
There is no specific investigation to diagnose the disorder.
Routine laboratory investigations, such as FBC, clotting studies and ESR, show no abnormality
although they may be performed to exclude other disease.
There are no established guidelines for investigation of patients with pigmented purpuric lesions.
Where skin biopsies are performed, histology will reveal evidence of capillaritis of the upper dermal
vessels, extravasation of the red blood cells with haemosiderin deposits in the macrophages and an
essentially normal epidermis. Biopsy may be helpful to exclude an early T-cell lymphoma.

Management
Non-drug
Avoid prolonged dependency of the legs.
If there is venous stasis, compression may be beneficial.
In view of the appearance and the chronic nature of the disorder, both children and their parents will
require reassurance as to the benign nature of the disorder.
Adolescents and young adults may benefit from counselling because of the unsightly nature of the
lesions.
Schamberg's disease, pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatosis of Gougerot and Blum and lichen
aureus may benefit from treatment with psoralen combined with ultraviolet A (PUVA) [12, 13, 14] .
One study has reported the use of advanced fluorescence technology (a method of delivering an
intense beam of fluorescent light) in Schamberg's disease of the legs, with favourable results [15] .
Difficult or persistent cases of pigmented purpuric eruption may benefit from narrowband UVB
therapy [16] . Successful use in children with Schamberg's disease has been reported [15] .

Drugs
The pigmented purpuric dermatoses follow a benign but chronic course. Although treatment with oral
steroids can be effective in clearing the lesions, these are not generally used, as the risks of treatment
far outweigh any potential benefits.
Antihistamines may offer relief from pruritus but at the cost of sedation.
Topical steroid creams may bring some symptomatic relief.
Aminaphtone has been found to be helpful in Schamberg's disease (not licensed in the UK).
Pentoxifylline has also been found to be beneficial (also unlicensed use) [3] .
Treatments tried for lichen aureus include topical pimecrolimus 1% cream and a combination of
pentoxifylline and epoprostenol (prostacyclin) [17] .

Prognosis
All forms of pigmented purpuric dermatoses have a chronic, relapsing and remitting benign course
and are not associated with any other physical abnormality.
Spontaneous remissions may occur.
Very rare descriptions have occurred of T-cell lymphoma occurring in patients with a diagnosis of
Schamberg's disease [18] .
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Further reading & references

Capillaritis; DermNet NZ

1. Sardana K, Sarkar R, Sehgal VN; Pigmented purpuric dermatoses: an overview; Int J Dermatol. 2004 Jul;43(7):482-8.
2. Sharma L, Gupta S; Clinicoepidemiological study of pigmented purpuric dermatoses. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2012
Jan;3(1):17-20. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.93486.
3. Mun JH, Jwa SW, Song M, et al; Extensive pigmented purpuric dermatosis successfully treated with pentoxifylline. Ann
Dermatol. 2012 Aug;24(3):363-5. doi: 10.5021/ad.2012.24.3.363. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
4. Kim MJ, Kim BY, Park KC, et al; A case of childhood lichen aureus. Ann Dermatol. 2009 Nov;21(4):393-5. Epub 2009 Nov
30.
5. Sethuraman G, Sugandhan S, Bansal A, et al; Familial pigmented purpuric dermatoses. J Dermatol. 2006 Sep;33(9):639-
41.
6. Magro CM, Schaefer JT, Crowson AN, et al; Pigmented purpuric dermatosis: classification by phenotypic and molecular
profiles. Am J Clin Pathol. 2007 Aug;128(2):218-29.
7. Kocak AY, Akay BN, Heper AO; Sildenafil-induced pigmented purpuric dermatosis. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2013 Mar;32(1):91-2.
doi: 10.3109/15569527.2012.702838. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
8. Kaplan R, Meehan SA, Leger M; A case of isotretinoin-induced purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi and review of
substance-induced pigmented purpuric dermatosis. JAMA Dermatol. 2014 Feb;150(2):182-4. doi:
10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.7371.
9. Torrelo A, Requena C, Mediero IG, et al; Schamberg's purpura in children: a review of 13 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003
Jan;48(1):31-3.
10. Miller K, Fischer M, Kamino H, et al; Purpura annularis telangiectoides. Dermatol Online J. 2012 Dec 15;18(12):5.
11. Fink-Puches R, Wolf P, Kerl H, et al; Lichen aureus: clinicopathologic features, natural history, and relationship to mycosis
fungoides. Arch Dermatol. 2008 Sep;144(9):1169-73. doi: 10.1001/archderm.144.9.1169.
12. Lichen aureuse; Scholarship, University of California
13. Seckin D, Yazici Z, Senol A, et al; A case of Schamberg's disease responding dramatically to PUVA treatment.
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2008 Apr;24(2):95-6.
14. Kocaturk E, Kavala M, Zindanci I, et al; Narrowband UVB treatment of pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatitis (Gougerot-
Blum). Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2009 Feb;25(1):55-6.
15. Manolakos DA, Weiss J, Glick B, et al; Treatment of Schamberg's disease with advanced fluorescence technology. J Drugs
Dermatol. 2012 Apr;11(4):528-9.
16. Fathy H, Abdelgaber S; Treatment of pigmented purpuric dermatoses with narrow-band UVB: a report of six cases. J Eur
Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 May;25(5):603-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03806.x.
17. Cather JC; Asymptomatic golden macule on the ankle. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2008 Jan;21(1):73-4.
18. Shen A et al; Capillaritis as a potential harbinger of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Dermatology Clinic Online, 2004

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical
conditions. Patient Platform Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no
warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of
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Author: Peer Reviewer:

Dr Nick Imm Prof Cathy Jackson
Document ID: Last Checked: Next Review:
2611 (v24) 11/08/2016 10/08/2021

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