brain purpura

a hemorrhagic encephalopathy resembling acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis, but without the inflammatory or necrotic changes of that disorder. It is marked by small pericapillary hemorrhages in the white matter of the brain, with adjacent demyelination and destruction of the axons; clinical manifestations include stupor and coma. The etiology is uncertain, but it is sometimes secondary to viral pneumonia or arsenical intoxication. Called also pericapillary encephalorrhagia.