Spontaneous Bruising in a Family Practice Population: How common and how benign is it?

Purpura simplex, or the syndrome of "easy bruisability," is a benign, non-progressive clinical entity that can at times mimic more serious bleeding disorders. This study investigated the incidence of spontaneous bruising in a family practice population. Results suggest that spontaneous bruising is very common, particularly in women. Postulated mechanisms for purpura simplex are briefly reviewed.