Calciphylaxis

Treatment

No standard or universally effective therapy for calciphylaxis exists. At Mayo Clinic calciphylaxis is treated using three approaches:

1. Removal of affected tissue (debridement). For sores to heal, some of the tissue affected by calciphylaxis may need to be surgically removed. In some cases, tissue can be removed using other methods, such as wet dressings or whirlpool treatments, among others.
2. Restoring oxygen and blood flow to the skin. Your doctor may recommend hyperbaric oxygen treatment to increase oxygen delivery to the affected parts of the body.
3. Decreasing calcium deposition in the arterioles. This may be accomplished by:



• Changing your diet.
• Altering your dialysis prescription, if you are undergoing kidney dialysis.
• Medications. Your doctor will evaluate your current medications and eliminate potential triggers for calciphylaxis, such as corticosteroids or iron and calcium supplements. Your doctor also may recommend a medication, cinacalcet, that can help control parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is secreted by the parathyroid glands and regulates your body's use of calcium and phosphorus. Other medications may include sodium thiosulfate which binds calcium.
• Surgery. If your doctor determines that an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism) is contributing to the abnormal calcium metabolism by producing too much PTH, surgery to remove all or part of the parathyroid glands may be recommended.

Other treatments

Additional treatment for calciphylaxis may include:

• Antibiotic treatment
• Pain medication
• Other blood-thinning medications

A team of doctors, including kidney specialists (nephrologists), dermatologists, plastic surgeons and endocrine and infectious diseases specialists, work together to find solutions to your problem.