Medial arterial calcification mimicking temporal arteritis

Medial arterial calcification, which has been increasingly recognized in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, has been associated with acutely symptomatic vascular complications including calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) and ischemic changes in the extremities. This report describes a 50-year-old ESRD patient on maintenance hemodialysis in whom medial arterial calcification developed with features mimicking the findings of temporal arteritis. He complained of persistent bilateral temporal area headaches with associated symptoms of blurred vision; pain in his shoulders, hips, and knees; and intermittent symptoms consistent with jaw claudication. He was not receiving calcium or vitamin D supplements. Superficial temporal arteries were dilated, tortuous, nodular, and tender to palpation. Ophthalmologic examination was unremarkable, except for the presence of peripapillary atrophy. Temporal artery biopsy results showed medial arterial calcification with mild inflammatory changes. No giant cells were identified. Additional long-term complications of medial arterial calcification have included the development of painful ischemic ulceration of the glans penis and extensive mitral annulus calcification detected by echocardiography. The findings in this patient show that clinical manifestations of medial artery calcification associated with ESRD can mimic those seen with other vascular diseases.