Management of the oral manifestations of senile purpura in an edentulous patient: a case report

Abstract

Senile purpura occurs because of a weakness of the vascular supporting tissues mainly caused by aging and is most often seen on the dorsal surface of the hands and the extensor surfaces of the forearms, and has also been observed in the oral mucosa of elderly patients. These red lesions present as sharply margined subcutaneous hemorrhagic spots and are due to trauma, such as damage to the endothelium of small blood vessels, or a coagulation defect. They can also be due to reduced perivascular support, or capillary fragility and permeability, or a combination of all of these factors. Oral manifestation of senile purpura can also be induced by long periods of medication use leading to fragile areas of the mucosa. The presence of senile purpura requires continuous follow-up since drug-induced purpura may cause plaque function alterations. An accurate diagnosis in elderly complete denture wearers can minimize bleeding and prevent possible development of ulcerations under the dentures, especially during the adaptation period to the prosthesis. This case report, presents the care and 3-year follow-up of a 66-year-old woman with complete dentures who presented with the oral manifestations of senile purpura caused by the continued use of several medications.

Dental Prosthetic Rehabilitation Interventions in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in the Nursing Homes of the Lombardy Region: A Retrospective Study

“…The deterioration of cognitive functions, behavioral disturbances, and inadequate nursing and parasanitary training contribute to poor oral health in elderly people with dementia [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Studies show that frail people having fewer teeth are associated with a lack of nutritional supply and that dental status could play a role in musculoskeletal frailty [ 6 , 21 ] and cognitive impairment [ 22 ]; additionally, the presence of lesions of the oral mucosa could interfere with the nutrition of elderly patients [ 6 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The first alarm bell is the lack of energy that the elderly manifest during the day and that social health workers notice and report to the doctor in order to act preventively/promptly on potentially reversible causes [ 26 , 27 ].…”