Calcinosis cutis universalis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Deposition of calcium salts in the skin and subcutaneous tissue occurs in a variety of rheumatic diseases, being most commonly associated with scleroderma, CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia), dermatomyositis, and overlap syndromes but is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Calcinosis is classified into four subsets: dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, or calciphylaxis/iatrogenic. The pathophysiology of calcinosis cutis remains unclear. Our patient developed extensive areas of calcifications in the trunk and extremities (calcinosis universalis) 8 years after SLE diagnosis, which would correspond to a form of dystrophic calcification. No response was observed after treatment with oral diltiazem for 3 months. We review the literature on the pathogenesis and prevalence of calcinosis universalis in SLE.