Severe calciphylaxis in a renal patient on long-term oral anticoagulant therapy.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of calciphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition, is not well understood. Several factors such as end-stage renal disease (azotemia), hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, a high calcium-phosphate product, and the use of steroids and cytotoxic drugs after kidney transplantation are believed to interact in calciphylaxis. Recently, hypercoagulability due to functional protein C deficiency has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in this condition. Here, we present a renal transplant patient, with secondary hyperparathyroidism and on long-term oral anticoagulant therapy, who developed calciphylaxis with severe skin necrosis of her legs. The patient's condition improved dramatically after total parathyroidectomy. Hypercoagulability, therefore, does not appear to have played a significant role in this case of calciphylaxis.

• Authors: M Rudwaleit, A Schwarz, C Trautmann, G Offermann, A Distler
• Journal: American journal of nephrology (Am J Nephrol) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. 344-8 ( 1996) ISSN: 0250-8095 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 8739290 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Anticoagulants (administration & dosage)
• Blood Coagulation Tests
• Calciphylaxis (blood, etiology, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary (complications)
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (complications)
• Middle Aged
• Necrosis
• Skin (pathology)