Calciphylaxis in a patient with end-stage renal disease

Abstract

Calciphylaxis is a rare and life-threatening condition of progressive cutaneous necrosis secondary to small and medium-sized vessel calcification. It is seen almost exclusively in patients with end-stage renal disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism. We experienced a case of 67-year-old man with calciphylaxis that manifested with characteristic skin lesions, pathologic findings, and laboratory changes. His skin lesions began as painful erythematous patches and subsequently progressed to necrotic ulcers with eschars on the distal aspect of the extremities. Pathologically, calcification was found in small and medium-sized blood vessels in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue. His serum calcium was 9.5 mg/dL, phosphorus was 7.8 mg/dL, and nPTH was 99.9 pg/mL. The patient had been treated with surgical debridement and other supportive treatment. However, he eventually underwent an amputation below the right knee and died from sepsis.