Calciphylaxis

About

Calciphylaxis is a serious condition in which abnormal amounts of calcium are deposited in the body, mainly in the small blood vessels that supply the skin and the fat tissue (vascular calcification). It most commonly affects people who have end-stage kidney failure.

Calciphylaxis is associated with uremia, a toxic condition in which substances normally eliminated in the urine — such as calcium and phosphate — build up in the body. Doctors believe that calciphylaxis causes changes in the walls of blood vessels so that cells take on the characteristics of bone cells and deposit calcium. This eventually leads to the formation of blood clots in the smallest parts of the arteries (arterioles), depriving the skin and underlying tissues of oxygen and nourishment.

People with this disease often have:

• Deep painful sores that fail to heal, often in skin areas with high fat content
• Infections from wounds that don't heal

Complications of calciphylaxis can include:

• Blood infections
• Multiple organ failure

Typically, calciphylaxis has a survival rate of one to five years. But if detected and treated early, survival can be improved.