Hess test
Encyclopedia
The Hess test or Rumpel-Leede test is a medical test
used to assess capillary
fragility. It is also called the Tourniquet test
.
To perform the test, pressure is applied to the forearm with a blood pressure cuff inflated to between systolic and diastolic blood pressure
for 10 minutes. After removing the cuff, the number of petechiae in a 5 cm diameter circle of the area under pressure is counted. Normally less than 15 petechiae are seen. 15 or more petechiae indicate capillary fragility, which occurs due to poor platelet
function, bleeding diathesis
or thrombocytopenia
, and can be seen in cases of scurvy
, and Dengue fever
.
The test is named after Alfred Fabian Hess
.
Medical test
A diagnostic test is any kind of medical test performed to aid in the diagnosis or detection of disease. For example:* to diagnose diseases, and preferably sub-classify it regarding, for example, severity and treatability...
used to assess capillary
Capillary
Capillaries are the smallest of a body's blood vessels and are parts of the microcirculation. They are only 1 cell thick. These microvessels, measuring 5-10 μm in diameter, connect arterioles and venules, and enable the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrient and waste...
fragility. It is also called the Tourniquet test
Tourniquet test
A tourniquet test determines capillary fragility. It is a clinical diagnostic method to determine a patient's haemorrhagic tendency...
.
To perform the test, pressure is applied to the forearm with a blood pressure cuff inflated to between systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
for 10 minutes. After removing the cuff, the number of petechiae in a 5 cm diameter circle of the area under pressure is counted. Normally less than 15 petechiae are seen. 15 or more petechiae indicate capillary fragility, which occurs due to poor platelet
Platelet
Platelets, or thrombocytes , are small,irregularly shaped clear cell fragments , 2–3 µm in diameter, which are derived from fragmentation of precursor megakaryocytes. The average lifespan of a platelet is normally just 5 to 9 days...
function, bleeding diathesis
Bleeding diathesis
In medicine , bleeding diathesis is an unusual susceptibility to bleeding mostly due to hypocoagulability, in turn caused by a coagulopathy . Several types are distinguished, ranging from mild to lethal...
or thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a relative decrease of platelets in blood.A normal human platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. These limits are determined by the 2.5th lower and upper percentile, so values outside this range do not necessarily indicate disease...
, and can be seen in cases of scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
, and Dengue fever
Dengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
.
The test is named after Alfred Fabian Hess
Alfred Fabian Hess
Alfred Fabian Hess was an American physician known for his work on the role of nutrition in scurvy and rickets and for describing the Hess test.- Biography :...
.