Calciphylaxis is a rare and life-threatening condition occurring in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis. The diagnosis is frequently delayed or missed and therapy is often unsuccessful.
Objective:
The clinical and pathological components of calciphylaxis are emphasized in a patient that may facilitate early diagnosis and initiation of therapy.
Results:
Early recognition of the clinical signs and symptoms of calciphylaxis is crucial. The tissue diagnosis requires large elliptical biopsies because histological findings are segmental and often missed.
Conclusion:
Early diagnosis and intervention in calciphylaxis is critical. Parathyroidectomy should be considered in all cases.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BudisavljevicMNCheekDPlothDW. Calciphylaxis in chronic renal failure. J Am Soc Nephrol1996; 7:978–982.
2.
SelyeH. Calciphylaxis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962:1–16.
3.
ChanYIMahonyJFTurnerJJ. The vascular lesions associated with skin necrosis in renal failure. Br J Dermatol1983; 109:85–89.
4.
IvkerRAWoosleyJBriggamanRA. Calciphylaxis in three patients with end-stage renal disease. Arch Dermatol1995; 131:63–68.
5.
GipsteinRMCoburnJWAdamsDA. Calciphylaxis in man: A syndrome of tissue necrosis and vascular calcification in 11 patients with chronic renal failure. Arch Intern Med1976; 136:1273–1280.
6.
FischerAMorrisD. Pathogenesis of calciphylaxis: Study of three cases with literature review. Hum Pathol1995; 26:1055–1064.
7.
WalshJFairleyJ. Calcifying disorders of the skin. J Am Acad Dermatol1995; 33:693–706.
8.
WhittamLMcGibbonDMacDonaldD. Proximal cutaneous necrosis in association with chronic renal failure. Br J Dermatol1996; 135:778–781.
9.
MehtaRScottGSloandJ. Skin necrosis with acquired protein C deficiency in patients with renal failure and calciphylaxis. Am J Med1990; 88:252–257.
10.
Perez-MijaresJGuzman-ZamudioJPayan-LopezA. Calciphylaxis in a hemodialysis patient: Functional protein S deficiency?Nephrol Dial Transplant1996; 11:1856–1859.
11.
RoeSMGrahamDLBrockWB. Calciphylaxis: Early recognition and management. Am Surg1994; 60:81–86.
12.
AdroqueHFrazierMZeluffB. Systemic calciphylaxis revisited. Am J Nephrol1981; 1:177–183.
13.
ScheinmanPHelmKFairleyJ. Acral necrosis in a patient with chronic renal failure: Calciphylaxis. Arch Dermatol1991; 127:248–249.
14.
RichensGPiepkornMDruegerG. Calcifying panniculitis associated with renal failure: A case of Selye's calciphylaxis in man. J Am Acad Dermatol1982; 6:537–539.
15.
HafnerJKeuschGWahlC. Uremic small-artery disease with medical calcification and intimal hyperplasia (so-called calciphylaxis): A complication of chronic renal failure and benefit from parathyroidectomy, J Am Acad Dermatol1995; 33:954–962.
