Capillary fragility

What it means

Reduced resistance to rupture of capillary blood vessels. Capillary fragility may manifest as a bleeding diathesis with spontaneous ecchymoses (bruises).

The formation of petechiae distal to a tourniquet or sphygmomanometer on release of pressure is known as the Rumpel-Leede sign. This sign was reported in 1909 by Theodor Rumpel, and again independently in 1911 by Carl Stockbridge Leede. Historically, the tourniquet test (or Rumpel-Leede Capillary-Fragility Test) was used to assess patients for thrombocytopenia and capillary fragility. Today, the Rumpel-Leede sign may be observed iatrogenically in the context of continuous blood-pressure monitoring [PMID:24382085].

Rare diseases that can present with this2

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category