[Calciphylaxis. A review of 9 cases]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Vascular Medicine
• Nephrology

Background:

• Calciphylaxis is a severe vascular disease affecting small vessels, characterized by high morbidity and mortality.
• Limited published data exists, particularly from Spanish hospitals.
• Understanding patient profiles and risk factors is crucial for improved management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographic, clinical, and histological profile of calciphylaxis patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with calciphylaxis.
• To explore potential therapeutic strategies for calciphylaxis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study design.
• Inclusion of patients diagnosed with calciphylaxis and confirmed by biopsy.
• Data collected from January 2010 to August 2015.

Main Results:

• Nine patients were studied, aged 76-86 years.
• All patients presented with cardiovascular comorbidities.
• Renal failure was present in 67% of patients, with an observed mortality rate of 33%.

Conclusions:

• Complete blood analysis is essential for differential diagnosis of skin ulcers.
• Multidisciplinary team management is recommended for calciphylaxis patients.
• Sodium thiosulfate shows promise as a therapeutic agent for calciphylaxis.