Penile Abscess Complicating Chronic Penile Calciphylaxis in a Heart Transplant Recipient and End-Stage Renal Disease

Bharath P Bhushan1, Sharath Rajagopalan1, Vikash Kumar1

  • 1Internal Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.

Cureus
|June 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Calciphylaxis, a rare condition causing tissue death, is particularly dangerous in end-stage renal disease patients. This case highlights the extreme rarity and high mortality risk of penile calciphylaxis and its management challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Dermatology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Calciphylaxis, or calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is a severe condition causing skin necrosis due to arteriolar calcification.
  • It predominantly affects patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), carrying a high mortality rate exceeding 50% within one year.
  • Penile calciphylaxis is an exceptionally rare manifestation with significant associated mortality and diagnostic/therapeutic difficulties.

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