Calciphylaxis in a 30-Year-Old Woman With Alcoholic Cirrhosis: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report describes a rare instance of calciphylaxis in a young woman with alcoholic cirrhosis and highlights diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting calciphylaxis in a young patient with cirrhosis, emphasizing bone scintigraphy for diagnosis.

Findings

Calciphylaxis was diagnosed in a 30-year-old woman with alcoholic cirrhosis using bone scintigraphy.

The case underscores the importance of organ transplantation for effective treatment of calciphylaxis.

Bone scintigraphy is highlighted as a less invasive diagnostic tool for calciphylaxis.

Abstract

A diagnosis of calciphylaxis is rare amongst the vulnerable population of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); however, it has poor outcomes when it does present. With ineffective clearance due to reduced kidney function, calcium and phosphorus accumulate and deposit in the intimal layer of blood vessels and other soft tissues throughout the body. It can be proven using biopsy of skin lesions characteristic of the disease or with less invasive methods including X-ray and bone scintigraphy. Calciphylaxis is typically seen in middle-aged patients who have undergone prolonged dialysis treatment and has a devastating prognosis unless the patient can obtain a renal transplant. In this report, we present a case of a 30-year-old female patient with calciphylaxis and highlight the value of bone scintigraphy for diagnosis, while noting the importance of organ transplant for proper treatment.

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