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Visceral calcification and the CaXP product
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Visceral calcification, seen in dialysis patients and those with malignancy-related hypercalcemia, is linked to elevated serum calcium-phosphate (CaXP) products. A CaXP product of 60 may signal spontaneous salt precipitation in organs like the lungs and stomach.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Radiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Visceral calcification is a known complication in certain chronic conditions.
- Bone-seeking radionuclides are used in bone scans to detect calcification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of visceral calcification in patients with terminal renal failure, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and primary hyperparathyroidism.
- To identify the serum calcium-phosphate (CaXP) product threshold associated with visceral calcification.
Main Methods:
- Bone scans using bone-seeking radionuclides were performed on 22 renal failure patients, 9 with hypercalcemia of malignancy, and 9 with primary hyperparathyroidism.
- Visceral uptake of radionuclides in the lungs or stomach indicated calcification.
- Serum CaXP products were measured and compared between patients with and without visceral calcification.
Main Results:
- Visceral calcification was observed in 50% of renal failure patients and 44% of hypercalcemia of malignancy patients.
- No visceral calcification was detected in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.
- Patients with visceral calcification had significantly higher serum CaXP products than those without.
Conclusions:
- A serum CaXP product of 60 appears to be the saturation point for calcium phosphate precipitation in visceral organs like the lungs and stomach.
- Elevated CaXP products are associated with visceral calcification in patients with renal failure and hypercalcemia of malignancy.