Determining the cause of purpura involves a systematic approach that considers the appearance, distribution, and associated symptoms, along with laboratory testing:
The first step is distinguishing whether the purpura is palpable (raised) or non-palpable (flat).
Palpable purpura suggests inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), while non-palpable purpura often indicates problems with platelets, clotting factors, or blood vessel fragility.
Palpable << >> Non-palpable