Calciphylaxis

Abstract

The complete physiopathology is still unclear. Two separate processes have been described: a progressive calcification of medium and small vessels of the subcutaneous and fat tissues related to an abnormal phosphate/calcium ratio occurring in the presence of predisposing factors (chronic vasculopathy, diabetes mellitus, obesity, renal insufficiency, etc.) and an acute phase caused by a decreased blood flow (hypotension, hemostatis perturbations and coagulopathy, infection, injury, etc.) causing the infarction of the tissues. The main risk factor for calciphylaxis is the chronic renal insufficiency with or without a hyperparathyroidy. It mostly occurs on a dialysed patient but may be also associated with other conditions (corticosteroids or antivitamin K therapy, neoplasia, chronic inflammation, etc.).