What is "calciphylaxis"

Calciphylaxis, or calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), is a syndrome of vascular calcification, thrombosis and skin necrosis. It is seen mostly in patients with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, but can occur in the absence of renal failure. It results in chronic non-healing wounds and is usually fatal. Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious disease, believed to affect 1-4% of all dialysis patients.

Calciphylaxis is one type of extraskeletal calcification. Similar extraskeletal calcifications are observed in some patients with hypercalcemic states, including patients with milk-alkali syndrome, sarcoidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, and hypervitaminosis D.