Treatment of cutaneous calciphylaxis with sodium thiosulfate: two case reports and a review of the literature

Am J Clin Dermatol. 2011 Oct 1;12(5):339-46. doi: 10.2165/11587060-000000000-00000.

Abstract

Cutaneous calciphylaxis is a potentially fatal condition characterized by calcium deposition in dermal arterioles and the subsequent development of livedo reticularis, plaques, and extremely painful ulcers. This condition may be present in up to 4% of end-stage renal disease patients. Several treatments, which mainly attempt to control calcium phosphate metabolism, are available for this condition. We describe two patients treated with sodium thiosulfate with good results. Moreover, we also performed a PubMed literature search of sodium thiosulfate treatment for calciphylaxis. We found 41 cases of which most (> 90%) presented a rapid and sustained resolution, indicating this drug is a very good candidate for the treatment of this condition.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calciphylaxis / drug therapy*
  • Calciphylaxis / physiopathology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Phosphates / metabolism
  • Chelating Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thiosulfates / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Chelating Agents
  • Thiosulfates
  • calcium phosphate
  • sodium thiosulfate
  • Calcium