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Calciphylaxis in two patients with end‐stage renal disease
Author(s) -
Filosa G,
Bugatti L,
Nicolini M,
Verdolini R
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2001.00330.x
Subject(s) - medicine , calciphylaxis , thrombosis , renal vein thrombosis , disseminated intravascular coagulation , end stage renal disease , pathology , complication , hemodialysis , dermis , disease , surgery
Fatal calciphylaxis (CPX) occurred in two 71‐year‐old females both requiring haemodialysis for end‐stage renal disease. Case 2 also had an associated follicular lymphoplasmocytoid lymphoma. Although laboratory tests disclosed normal coagulation parameters, this woman had a striking cutaneous histological picture of vessel thrombosis and finally died of disseminated intravascular coagulation. CPX is a rare but potentially life‐threatening complication of renal failure. The clinical picture is primarily characterized by livedoid purpura with subsequent cutaneous ischaemia and painful ulcerations. Cutaneous ischaemic phenomena are sustained by a progressive process of vascular calcification and thrombosis involving small to medium size arteries of the dermis and subcutis. Although not yet clearly explained, the pathogenetic role of a predisposing hypercoagulability state is currently the most frequently considered hypothesis.