Calciphylaxis: one hospital's experience

The lives of the ESRD population have been enhanced and prolonged by improved conservative management, efficient dialysis and successful transplantation. However, practitioners are noting some significant morbidity in these long-term surviving nephrology patients. Clinical signs of renal osteodystrophy can be very subtle and insidious. Bone pain, muscle weakness, and pruritus can be vague symptoms. Calciphylaxis, which is classified as a skin disorder is an extremely rare, painful, and progressive complication. Typically, the patient presents with vascular calcifications, cutaneous ulcerations and tissue necrosis. The treatment regimen for bone disease in the ESRD population will be reviewed. The symptoms of calciphylaxis, diagnostic tests and prognosis will be discussed. Four case studies describe our recent experience. Emphasis will be on the intense multidisciplinary care required for this devastating and often fatal syndrome.