UREMIC CALCIPHYLAXIS UNDER THE CALCIMIMETIC CINACALCET

  • Leonor Ramos Interna do Internato Complementar de Dermatologia/Resident, Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Portugal
  • I. Coutinho Interna do Internato Complementar de Dermatologia/Resident, Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Portugal
  • L. Linhares Interno de Medicina Interna/Resident, Internal Medicine, Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HG, Portugal
  • M. M. Brites Assistente Hospitalar de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Consultant of Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Portugal
  • José Carlos Cardoso Assistente Hospitalar de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Consultant of Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Portugal
  • Óscar Tellechea Chefe de Serviço, Professor Auxiliar da FMUC/Consultant Chief, Professor of Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra Portugal
  • Margarida Gonçalo Chefe de Serviço; Assistente Convidada/Consultant Chief, Invited Professor of Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra – HUC, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra Portugal
Keywords: Calciphylaxis, Cinacalcet, Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Uremic calciphylaxis is a rare but serious complication of dialysis patients. Its pathogenesis is not completely understood, although many risk factors have been identified, such as hyperparathyroidism. Cinacalcet (a calcimimetic agent) is used to keep calcium, phosphorus and PTH within the normal range. A 72-year old female patient, under hemodialysis for 15 years with hyperphosphatemia, normocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism despite therapy with cinacalcet and sevelamer, presented with several painful ulcerated lesions of the right leg, with a geographical configuration, central necrotic surface and hemorrhagic borders that progressed for 6 weeks. Cutaneous biopsy revealed vascular deposits of calcium in deep dermal and hypodermal vessels, confirming the clinical diagnosis of calciphylaxis. The necrotic borders of the ulcer improved when cinacalcet and sevelamer were administered in maximum doses. However, the patient passed away in consequence of comorbidities. We report a case in which cinacalcet was ineffective in controlling the phosphate and calcium abnormalities in an hemodialysis patient and, consequently, his cutaneous lesions.

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References

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Published
2015-04-13
How to Cite
Ramos, L., Coutinho, I., Linhares, L., Brites, M. M., Cardoso, J. C., Tellechea, Óscar, & Gonçalo, M. (2015). UREMIC CALCIPHYLAXIS UNDER THE CALCIMIMETIC CINACALCET. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, 72(4), 559-563. https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.72.4.328
Section
Case Reports