Successful treatment of calciphylaxis with pamidronate

Iran J Kidney Dis. 2015 Jan;9(1):67-70.

Abstract

Calciphylaxis is a complication of chronic kidney disease characterized by necrotic lesion in the skin. Histological examination reveals microcalcification of medium-sized blood vessels. We report on a 21-month-old girl with end-stage renal disease with severe calcium-phosphate imbalance. Calciphylaxis process started when she received calcium gluconate intravenously the day before the surgery to correct hypocalcemia and continued progressively despite peritoneal dialysis and forced stopping calcium-containing medication. Pamidronate, 0.5 mg/kg/d, was administered for 6 days and then once a week for 5 weeks. After 1 week, the skin lesion started to heal and circulation improved, and after 6 weeks, all skin lesions completely recovered. Pamidronate was effective to stop calciphylaxis in this case with advanced renal insufficiency and severe calcium-phosphate imbalance. Medical or surgical debridement are not suggested and lesions might recover without scar by pamidronate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Calciphylaxis / diagnosis
  • Calciphylaxis / drug therapy*
  • Calciphylaxis / etiology
  • Calcium Gluconate / adverse effects*
  • Debridement
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypocalcemia / diagnosis
  • Hypocalcemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypocalcemia / etiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
  • Pamidronate
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing / drug effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Pamidronate
  • Calcium Gluconate