A Fatal Case of Non-Uremic Calciphylaxis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Patient: Female, 61 Final Diagnosis: Non-uremic calciphylaxis Symptoms: Pain • skin ulcers Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: General and Internal Medicine OBJECTIVE: Rare disease BACKGROUND: Calciphylaxis is a rare cutaneous disease, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy, that occurs most frequently in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and on long-term hemodialysis. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 61-year-old female patient with worsening chronic kidney disease not on dialysis therapy, who presented with severe progressive calciphylaxis on both lower limbs. CONCLUSIONS: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy is a rare fatal condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. It is classically described in patients with end-stage kidney disease on long-term renal replacement therapy but can present in patients with an earlier stage of kidney disease. Non-uremic calciphylaxis should be suspected in patients with earlier stages of kidney disease, especially in those with other concurrent risk factors or co-morbid conditions, to avoid the high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with such cases.