Intractable wounds caused by calcific uremic arteriolopathy treated with bisphosphonates.
BACKGROUND
Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) is a calcification syndrome that predominantly affects relatively small vessels and is a life-threatening entity usually seen in patients with end-stage renal disease. Intractable skin necrosis sometimes causes lethal sepsis because it progresses rapidly as a result of mechanical stress.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the efficacy of etidronate disodium (bisphosphonates) in treating intractable ulcers occurred in a patient on hemodialysis accompanied with calcific uremic arteriolopathy.


RESULTS
A 53-year-old patient receiving hemodialysis with chronic renal failure accompanied with calciphylaxis had bilateral leg ulcers caused by minor trauma. The aggressive debridement worsened his skin condition as is usually seen in pyoderma gangrenosum. It eventually healed by lowering calcium-phosphorus levels with the administration of bisphosphonates and with the continuous use of sevelamer hydrochloride.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reporting a single case limits the interpretation of results.


CONCLUSIONS
Bisphosphonates may be effective in treating calciphylaxis and arteriosclerosis obliterans by reducing the formation of ectopic calcification around blood vessels.
Hanafusa
Takaaki
T
Department of Dermatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Yamaguchi
Yuji
Y
Tani
Mamori
M
Umegaki
Noriko
N
Nishimura
Yukari
Y
Katayama
Ichiro
I
D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012968:Etidronic Acid