Treatment of severe metastatic calcification in hemodialysis patients.
Soft tissue and vascular calcifications are commonly present in uremic patients secondary to disturbances in calcium and phosphate balance and secondary to hyperparathyroidism. We report a uremic patient who developed uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism rapidly within 6 months after commencing hemodialysis (HD) therapy, with clinical presentations of tumoral calcinosis, calciphylaxis, and myocardial calcifications. After treatment with a low-calcium dialysate, non-calcium-containing phosphate binders, and parathyroidectomy, a dramatic resolution of soft tissue calcification was achieved. However, there was relatively little change in the vascular and other visceral calcifications over the 3-month observation period. This case highlights an unusual and rapid development of tertiary hyperparathyroidism, the importance of tight calcium/phosphate control in uremic patients, the potential hazards of a high calcium concentration dialysate, and the dangers of the overzealous use of active vitamin D therapy in HD patients with uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Shih-Mong
SM
Yeh
Shang-Jyi
SJ
Hwang
Hung-Chun
HC
Chen
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education; D016105:Parathyroidectomy; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions