Calciphylaxis in a patient with acute kidney injury and alcoholic cirrhosis

Calciphylaxis is a rare disorder characterized by painful skin necrosis and calcification of small vessels which is seen mainly in the dialysis population. We describe a case of a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis developing calciphylaxis during an episode of acute kidney injury. We also review the literature in prior cases and postulate that unrecognized renal dysfunction in cirrhotic patients may have played a role in the development of this uncommon disorder. Our patient had complete recovery of the lesions with conservative treatment which coincided with recovery of her renal function. This case serves to highlight how small changes in creatinine levels in patients with cirrhosis may represent larger and clinically relevant changes in actual renal function that predispose these patients to calciphylaxis.