Calciphylaxis cutis: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Calciphylaxis is a poorly understood syndrome of vascular calcification and skin necrosis. It affects 1-4% of the population with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Disorders implicated in the pathogenesis of calciphylaxis include chronic renal failure, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, an elevated calcium-phosphate product, and secondary hyperparathyroidism (Essary, L.R. and Wick, M.R. (2000) Cutaneous calciphylaxis. An underrecognized clinicopathologic entity. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 113, 280-287, Beitz, J.M. (2004) Calciphylaxis:an uncommon but potentially deadly form of skin necrosis. Am. J. Nurs. 104, 36-37.). Although these abnormalities are extremely common in-patients with ESRD, calciphylaxis is relatively rare. The mortality rate of calciphylaxis is about 60-80%. The leading cause of death is sepsis from necrotic skin lesions (Hitti,W.A., Papadimitriou, J.C., Bartlett, S. and Wali, R.K. (2007) Spontaneous cutaneous ulcers in a patient with a moderate degree of chronic kidney disease: a different spectrum of calciphylaxis. Scand. J. Urol. Nephrol.1-3.). Here, we report a case of calciphylaxis in a 23-year-old female with past history of chronic renal failure, renal transplantation and intake of immunosuppressive drug. The relevant literature was discussed.