Calciphylaxis

From IDWiki

Background

  • Syndrome of skin ischemia and necrosis in the context of end-stage renal disease on dialysis
  • Rarely occurs in patients without ESRD, particularly with hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, alcoholic liver disease, and connective tissue diseases

Clinical Manifestations

  • Presents with necrotic ulcerations basically anywhere
  • Lesions may start as a purplish, painful, subcutaneous nodules or plaques, indurations, or livedo reticularis

Diagnosis

  • Mostly clinical
  • No specific laboratory abnormalities
  • Biopsy may show dermo-hypodermal and pannicular arteriolar calcification, subintimal fibrosis, and thrombotic occlusion

Management

  • Continue dialysis
  • Wound care and pain management
  • Treat infections as indicated
  • Consider treating hyperphosphatemia (using sevelamer or lanthanum)
  • Consider treating elevated PTH with cinacalcet