Fulminant calcinosis in two patients after kidney transplantation

The first patient had total parathyroidectomy (PTX) with autografting 2 years before. She developed disabling soft-tissue calcifications following kidney transplantation. After reduction of the autograft--a complete removal was not possible--the subcutaneous calcifications regressed. In the second patient, fulminant necrotizing vascular calcinosis developed after successful renal transplantation. Total PTX without autotransplantation was carried out, and progression of the vascular disease was ceased. In both patients, the parathyroid hormone was elevated but not the calcium-phosphate product. We suggest that fulminant calcinosis in patients with kidney transplants requires PTX.