Calciphylaxis: a poor prognostic indicator for limb salvage.
INTRODUCTION: Calciphylaxis (calcific uremic arteriolopathy) is a rare complication of end-stage renal disease in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Subcutaneous skin nodules and extensive tissue necrosis with vascular calcification characterize this process. DESIGN AND SETTING: The design of the study included case series and literature review. The study was set in a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Four patients presented over an 8-month period with extensive tissue loss and the subsequent diagnosis of calciphylaxis. Two of these patients were revascularized. One underwent primary amputation, and the final patient died before revascularization. The mortality rate for this group was 75%. All patients had significant vascular complications outside the area of initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS: These individuals represent a subset of patients who may not benefit from revascularization or may require extensive regulation of divalent metabolism before consideration for revascularization.