title: A clinical approach to the uraemic patient with extraskeletal calcifications.
abstract: Soft tissue calcifications are a frequent complication in patients with chronic renal failure. In most instances they remain clinically silent. However, in a minority of patients they are responsible for complications and may even become life-threatening. Various locations and types of calcium deposits have been characterized. Numerous underlying factors are thought to favour their formation, in particular increased calcium x phosphate product and advanced age. In most cases, local factors probably are involved as well. Tumoral calcinosis is a rarely observed form of extraskeletal calcification which is often invalidating. Since treatment is generally difficult, prevention should be the preferred goal.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unit 90, Necker Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Drüeke
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D000535:Aluminum; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium