Successful treatment of fulminant pneumococcal sepsis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

This case report describes a patient with a rapidly progressive pneumococcal septic shock and purpura fulminans. Despite maximal conventional treatment, the patient developed progressive multiple organ failure with imminent necrosis of the extremities. This extremely rare, but often fatal, disease responded dramatically to the infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.