Successful Management of Calciphylaxis in a Kidney Transplant Patient: Case Report

Calciphylaxis is a rare and often fatal condition mostly associated with end-stage renal disease. The pathophysiology remains elusive and treatment options are scarce. We present a rare case of severe calciphylaxis after kidney transplantation in a patient with persistent hyperparathyroidism.

A 78-year-old man with a history of end-stage renal disease developed edema and ulcerations on both lower limbs 14 months after kidney transplantation while receiving an mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor to manage polyoma virus-associated nephropathy. Skin biopsies taken from the ulcerations confirmed calciphylaxis. A multimodal treatment regimen combining medical (calcium-free phosphate binders, cinacalcet, paricalcitol, sodium thiosulfate, antibiotic treatment) and surgical treatments (debridement and autologous skin transplantation) ultimately resulted in successful wound healing.

We describe a case of severe calciphylaxis in a nonuremic patient after kidney transplantation. Rapid diagnosis by skin biopsy and an aggressive multimodal therapy regimen followed by long-term oral sodium thiosulfate treatment were crucial factors for a favorable outcome.