Sodium thiosulfate and pamidronate for treatment of calciphylaxis: case report / Tiosulfato de sodio y pamidronato para el tratamiento de calcifilaxis: reporte de caso

Abstract Introduction: Calciphylaxis is an infrequent disease that almost exclusively affects patients with chronic kidney disease, although cases have been observed in patients without renal function impairment. The diagnosis is mainly made by clinical manifestations and subsequently confirmed by radiological and histological study. The optimal treatment is not known, although there is a consensus that a multifactorial approach is required. Clinical Case: A 68-year-old woman on hemodialysis for 2 years, who presented a painful nodular lesion in the left thigh, a skin biopsy was performed resulting in a diagnosis of calciphylaxis. Treatment and Outcome: Treatment was started with intravenous sodium thiosulfate. Pamidronate is added intravenously, three months later, due to an unfavorable evolution. After 6 months of treatment, improvement in nodular lesions and healing of the ulcerated lesion was observed to be generally well tolerated treatment. Conclusion: The combined treatment of sodium thiosulfate, pamidronate and calcitomimetics has been effectiveand safe for the treatment of calciphylaxis, inducing complete remission.

Resumen: Introducción: La calcifilaxis es una enfermedad infrecuente que afecta casi exclusivamente a pacientes con insuficiencia renal, aunque se han observado casos en pacientes sin deterioro de la función renal. El diagnóstico es clínico confirmándose con estudio radiológico e histológico. No se conoce con exactitud el tratamiento óptimo, aunque hay consenso en que se requiere un abordaje multifactorial. Caso Clínico: Mujer de 68 años en hemodiálisis desde hace 2 años, que presenta una lesión nodular dolorosa en muslo izquierdo, resultando un diagnostico compatible con calcifilaxis, tras biopsia cutánea. Tratamiento y resultado: Inicia tratamiento con tiosulfato de sodio vía venosa. Tres meses más tarde y ante la evolución desfavorable, se añade al tratamiento pamidronato vía intravenosa. Tras 6 meses de tratamiento se observa mejoría de las lesiones nodulares y cicatrización de la lesión ulcerada, habiéndose experimentado buena tolerancia. Conclusión: El tratamiento combinado de tiosulfato de sodio, pamidronato y calcimiméticos ha resultado efectivo y seguro para el tratamiento de la calcifilaxis, induciendo su remisión completa.

Calcifilaxis / Calciphylaxis

La calcifilaxis es una vasculopatía caracterizada por isquemia y necrosis cutánea dolorosa debida a calcificación, fibroplastia de la íntima y trombosis de las arteriolas paniculares. Compromete más frecuentemente a pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica terminal y tiene muy elevada mortalidad. La biopsia de las lesiones cutáneas se utiliza como método diagnóstico. No se han registrado hallazgos específicos de laboratorio. Las lesiones cutáneas generalmente comienzan en las extremidades a modo de moteado violáceo doloroso similar al livedo reticularis. La evolución natural es hacia úlceras y escaras. La primera línea de tratamiento consiste en el cuidado de las lesiones cutáneas y antibioticoterapia. El tiosulfato sódico se utiliza como tratamiento debido a su actividad como antioxidante y quelante. Se presentan dos casos clínicos.

Calciphylaxis is vasculopathy characterized by ischemia and painful skin necrosis due to calcification and intimal fibroplasia of thrombosis of the panicular arterioles. It most frequently compromises patients with terminal chronic renal failure and has a high mortality rate. Biopsy of skin lesions is used as a diagnostic method. No specific laboratory findings have been recorded. Skin lesions usually begin in the extremities like a painful purplish mottling similar to "livedo reticularis". The natural evolution is to ulcers and bedsores. The first line of treatment involves the care of skin lesions and antibiotic therapy. Sodium thiosulfate is used as treatment due to its antioxidant activity and as a chelating. Two clinical cases are here reported.

Calciphylaxis: a rare but potentially fatal event of chronic kidney disease. Case report / Calcifilaxia: complicacao rara, mas potencialmente fatal da doenca renal cronica. Relato de caso

Calciphylaxis or calcific uremic arteriolopathy is a rare cutaneous-systemic disease occurring in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. The classical clinical picture is that of a necrotic and progressive skin ulcer of reticular pattern, mostly in the lower legs and susceptible to local infection. It is a product of mural calcification and occlusion of cutaneous and sub-cutaneous arteries and arterioles. The authors report the case of a 73-year-old male patient in his late stage of renal disease presenting severe necrotic cutaneous ulcers on lower legs followed by local and systemic infection and death due to sepse after parathyroidectomy.

Calcifilaxia ou arteriolopatia urêmica calcificante é quadro cutâneo-sistêmico raro em paciente com doença renal crônica em fase de diálise. Caracteriza-se por úlcera cutânea, necrose de padrão retiforme, evolução progressiva, localizada principalmente nos membros inferiores e suscetibilidade à infecção secundária. Decorre de calcificação da parede arterial e oclusão de arteríolas e artérias cutâneas e subcutâneas. Os autores relatam caso de paciente do sexo masculino de 73 anos de idade com doença renal em estadio tardio e úlceras cutâneas nos membros inferiores com necrose, evolução grave, infecção local e sistêmica e, óbito por sepse após paratireoidectomia.

Calciphylaxis, a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge: report of a successful case / Calcifilaxia, desafio diagnóstico e terapêutico: relato de um caso bem sucedido

Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is a severe complication often observed in patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure, which occurs mainly in women. It is characterized by ischemic tissue loss secondary to progressive vascular compromise. This is a rare and severe condition and its pathogenesis is unclear. The best treatment is prevention, especially in order to maintain adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus. We describe a case of this disease in a patient with hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure who underwent medical treatment, surgical debridement and total skin autografts, with resolution of symptoms after 6 months.

A Calcifilaxia, também conhecida como arteriolopatia urêmica calcificante, é uma complicação freqüentemente observada nos pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo secundário à insuficiência renal crônica, ocorrendo principalmente em mulheres. Caracteriza-se por necrose isquêmica cutânea, de instalação aguda e progressiva, secundária à calcificação de vasos sanguíneos de pequeno ou de médio calibre. Trata-se de uma afecção rara e grave, cuja patogênese é obscura, e o melhor tratamento é a prevenção, especialmente visando manter os níveis adequados de cálcio e de fósforo. Descrevese um caso desta moléstia em paciente portadora de hiperparatireoidismo secundário à insuficiência renal crônica, submetida a tratamento clínico, desbridamento cirúrgico e enxertos autólogos de pele total, com resolução completa do quadro após 6 meses.