title: Calciphylaxis, a poorly understood clinical syndrome: three case reports and a review of the literature.
abstract: Systemic calcification syndromes are a recognized complication occurring in some patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and secondary hyperparathyroidism. These patients develop severe livedo reticularis and subcutaneous tissue lesions progressing to frank necrosis and ultimately large areas of eschar. Clinically this syndrome is known as calciphylaxis; these lesions are usually resistant to aggressive debridement, systemic antibiotics, and revascularization procedures. We report three patients with somewhat different clinical presentations but all sharing a common link of exquisitely painful leg ulcers initially being treated as ischemic lesions or venous stasis-type ulcerations. These three patients were diagnosed with calciphylaxis on the basis of clinical, biochemical, and histopathological criteria. Two patients underwent parathyroidectomy late in the progression of their disease, with some resolution of their ulcerative lesions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 92134-5000, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hemp
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Carlisle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology