[Calciphylaxis: a severe but unrecognized complication in end-stage renal disease patients. A review of 2 cases]

Calciphylaxis presents like subcutaneous lesions with livedo reticularis leading to necrotic and painful ulcers, predominantly in the lower limbs and the abdomen. They initially simulate dermohypodermitis. Biology reveals secondary hyperparathyroidism, phosphocalcic metabolism abnormalities and state of hypercoagulability. Histological signs are constant: calcifications in the media of small and sub-cutaneous arteries, intimal hyperplasia and intravascular thrombosis. This complication occurs in 4% of end-stage renal disease patients. Its prognostic is awful with a rate of mortality of 60% due to sepsis. Treatment is based upon the normalization of phosphocalcic rates and local debridement.