Successful Treatment Using Apixaban in a Patient on Hemodialysis with Uremic Calciphylaxis

Moudi M Alasmari1,2, Mona Y Alsheikh3, Hend H Metwali2,4

  • 1College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious condition in which microvessel occlusion occurs within the subcutaneous adipose tissue and dermis, leading to painful lesions. End-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis and warfarin therapy can increase the risk of calciphylaxis. In this report, we describe the evaluation and treatment of a 75-year-old female patient with warfarin-induced calciphylaxis who presented unique symptoms. The patient required intensive care unit admission due to hemodynamic instability, which was treated with inotropes and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. This description of the patient's unusual symptoms has the potential to provide insights needed to improve the diagnosis of future patients. Due to the unavailability of FDA-approved treatment for calciphylaxis, its management is based on data from observational studies and clinical experience.

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