Table 1 Comparison between patients with meningococcal purpura fulminans who underwent (n = 68) or not (n = 127) a skin biopsy
Available data n = 195 | No skin biopsy n = 127 | Skin biopsy n = 68 | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Patient’s characteristics and ICU scores | ||||
Male gender | 195 | 62 (49) | 34 (50) | 0.725 |
Age, years | 195 | 25 [19–45] | 23 [20–45] | 0.993 |
SAPS II | 191 | 50 [34–67] | 47 [36–63] | 0.914 |
SOFA | 191 | 11 [8–14] | 11 [8–13] | 0.202 |
No coexisting comorbid conditions | 195 | 108 (85) | 54 (79) | 0.710 |
Clinical features upon ICU admission | ||||
Days between disease onset and ICU admission, days | 192 | 4 [3–5] | 4 [4–6] | 0.067 |
Headache | 195 | 68 (53) | 30 (44) | 0.360 |
Myalgia | 195 | 30 (24) | 17 (25) | 0.880 |
Digestive signs | 195 | 83 (65) | 41 (60) | 0.775 |
Glasgow coma score | 193 | 15 [13–15] | 15 [14–15] | 0.195 |
Temperature, °C | 171 | 38.6 [37.4–39.8] | 38.1 [37.0–39.8] | 0.421 |
Neck stiffness | 193 | 35 (28) | 17 (25) | 0.898 |
Biological data upon ICU admission | ||||
Leukocytes count, 103 mm − 3 | 146 | 10,685 [4472–20850] | 10,900 [3000–20700] | 0.624 |
Platelets count, 103 mm − 3 | 162 | 64,000 [26500–100000] | 59,500 [30250–103000] | 0.807 |
Serum creatinine, μmoL/L | 160 | 189 [136–248] | 202 [133–252] | 0.976 |
Prothrombin time, % | 152 | 32 [21–41] | 34 [22–45] | 0.403 |
Arterial lactate, mmol/L | 145 | 7.1 [4.8–11] | 7.4 [5.1–11] | 0.923 |
Fibrinogen, g/L | 118 | 1.7 [0.6–3.1] | 1.7 [0.8–2.8] | 0.690 |
Microbiological data at ICU admission | ||||
Bacteremia | 195 | 92 (72) | 32 (47) | 0.001 |
Lumbar puncture performed | 195 | 97 (76) | 27 (40) | < 0.001 |
Positive cerebrospinal fluid culture | 124/124 | 71/97 (73) | 12/27 (44) | 0.001 |
Outcome in the ICU | ||||
Platelets transfusion | 195 | 35 (27) | 21 (31) | 0.652 |
Plasma transfusion | 195 | 40 (32) | 26 (38) | 0.349 |
Steroids for septic shock or meningitis | 195 | 72 (57) | 43 (63) | 0.326 |
Activated protein C | 195 | 23 (18) | 10 (15) | 0.752 |
Invasive mechanical ventilation | 195 | 98 (77) | 52 (76) | 0.941 |
Renal replacement therapy | 195 | 41 (33) | 27 (40) | 0.321 |
Veno-arterial ECMO | 195 | 3 (2) | 4 (6) | 0.231 |
Limb amputation | 195 | 9 (7) | 9 (13) | 0.228 |
Death in ICU | 195 | 47 (37) | 22 (32) | 0.729 |
Duration of ICU stay, days | 195 | 5 [2–10] | 6 [3–12] | 0.183 |