Retrospective analysis of tissue plasminogen activator as an adjuvant treatment for calciphylaxis

To report our experience with low-dose tissue plasminogen activator in the treatment of calciphylaxis, a rare, usually fatal thrombotic condition that results in ischemia, necrosis, and infarction of adipose and cutaneous tissue.

Retrospective chart review.

Tertiary care academic medical center.

Fifteen patients (4 men and 11 women) with calciphylaxis, treated from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2010.

Treatment with tissue plasminogen activator, concomitant wound care, and management of calcium-phosphate status.

Short-term ulcer healing, long-term survival.

Patients received daily low-dose infusions of tissue plasminogen activator (mean treatment duration, 11 days). Six patients had no adverse reactions, 3 had minor bleeding, 6 required blood transfusions, and 3 had life-threatening bleeding. No patients died of treatment-related complications. Ten patients died (median time to death, 3.6 months; range, 23 days to 4.2 years). Of the remaining 5 patients, the median duration of follow-up was 36.8 months (range, 70 days to 4.3 years). Patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator had approximately 30% greater survival than controls, but the difference was not significant (P= .14). Our results were limited by the use of concomitant therapies, referral bias for advanced disease, and retrospective case-series design.

Thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator may be a useful adjunctive treatment in the management of patients with calciphylaxis. However, a multidisciplinary approach that includes aggressive wound care, débridement, thrombolytic therapy, restoration of tissue oxygenation, avoidance of infection, and control of calcium-phosphate homeostasis also is essential.