The calcium invasion: Calciphylaxis in Lupus.

ABSTRACT

Calciphylaxis is a poorly understood and highly morbid syndrome of vascular calcification and skin necrosis. We describe the case of a 52-year old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inappropriately treated with oral steroids for 18-years who developed renal impairment followed by skin necrosis and gangrene of right hand. She had subcutaneous calcium deposition with bilateral renal stones and widespread vascular calcifications. She was diagnosed with calciphylaxis and in spite of treatment died of a myocardial infarction.