Unusual Presentation of Calcinosis Cutis: Venous Calcification Following intravenous Calcium Gluconate Administration in a Preterm Baby

ABSTRACT

Neonatal hypocalcemia is not uncommon, especially in premature neonates. It is usually treated by intravenous calcium gluconate administration. However, complications caused by the extravasation of intravenous calcium gluconate include calcinosis cutis, calcium deposition in the dermis, which is irritating to soft tissues and can produce tissue necrosis. We report a case of iatrogenic calcinosis cutis in a 27-day-old preterm baby following the extravasation of calcium gluconate. In this case, calcinosis cutis occurred along the venous pathway in a rare vascular calcification pattern but spontaneously resolved 2 months later. Although iatrogenic calcinosis cutis is generally benign, early recognition of the extravasation of calcium gluconate is important to avoid severe complications. This report aimed to provide a warning about the risks associated with intravenous calcium gluconate and information about the course of a rare presentation of the common disease calcinosis cutis with vascular calcification.