title: Calciphylaxis in primary hyperparathyroidism: a case report and brief review.
abstract: A 52-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of nonhealing skin ulcers. The laboratory assessment showed a calcium level of 13.2 mg/dL (normal 8.4-10.2 mg/dL), albumin 2 g/dL (normal 3.5-4.8 g/dL), corrected calcium 14.8 mg/dL, phosphorus 1.4 mg/dL (normal 2.4-4.7 mg/dL), creatinine 0.7 mg/dL (normal 0.5-1.2 mg/dL), parathyroid hormone 893.3 pg/mL (normal 11.1-79.5 pg/mL). A technetium-sestamibi scan showed a left inferior parathyroid adenoma. The patient underwent a parathyroidectomy. Pathology showed a parathyroid adenoma. Despite treatment of her skin wounds with broad spectrum antibiotics and local wound care, the patient died of overwhelming sepsis. Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious disorder that leads to skin and soft tissue necrosis and requires prompt diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA. rene.joukhadar@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joukhadar
authors.forename: Tamis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bright
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003646:Debridement; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D049950:Hyperparathyroidism, Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery