[Calciphylaxis in a patient on long-term dialysis]

Calciphylaxis is a special form of soft tissue calcification (in particular blood vessels), affecting specially patients with chronic renal insufficiency and associated secondary hyperparathyroidism. Most severely affected are small arteries with a diameter of 0.2-0.5 mm at the interface of the corium and subcutaneous layer. Calcification of the vascular media with subsequent narrowing of the lumen causes ischaemic changes manifested by the development of painful reddish-violet spots on the skin with necrosis and ulcerations. The authors describe the case of a 73-year-old diabetic female patient with regular dialyzation treatment. The patient developed reddish-violet spots on the lower extremities shortly before admission to hospital. At the site of the spots rapidly progressing necroses developed. The cause of these ischaemic changes were calciphylactic changes confirmed on post-mortem examination and by histological examination.