# Delayed Diagnosis of Primary Hyperoxaluria and Systemic Oxalosis in a Hemodialysis Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

**Authors:** Hanane Benali, Mehdi El Mansouri, Ismail Ait Elkihal, Nabil Hamouche, Mariam Chettati, Wafaa Fadili, Inass Laouad

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104479 · 2026-03-01

## TL;DR

A patient on hemodialysis was later diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder causing oxalate buildup, leading to severe complications and death.

## Contribution

This case highlights the delayed diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria in a hemodialysis patient and its severe systemic consequences.

## Key findings

- Calcium oxalate deposits were identified in bone lesions via CT-guided biopsy.
- The patient developed neurological disorders and died from septic shock.
- Metabolic evaluation was not performed initially, leading to delayed diagnosis.

## Abstract

Primary hyperoxaluria is a rare congenital metabolic disorder characterized by excess production and accumulation of oxalate due to a hepatic enzyme deficiency. We report a rare case of a 54-year-old patient on chronic hemodialysis with initial nephropathy of lithiasic uropathy, in whom metabolic evaluation had not been performed. After six years of hemodialysis, the patient developed severe chronic pruritus, a tumoral syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly, peripheral lymphadenopathy, numerous subcutaneous masses, and diffuse bone pain. Laboratory tests revealed a profound anemia resistant to erythropoietin, severe hypoparathyroidism, and diffuse osteolytic lesions in the spine and pelvis.

CT-guided biopsy of the bone lesions showed deposits of calcium oxalates. The patient's condition deteriorated with the onset of central and peripheral neurological disorders, general deterioration, and eventual death from septic shock originating from a pulmonary focus.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** oxalate (PubChem CID 71081)
- **Diseases:** primary hyperoxaluria (MONDO:0002474)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EPO (erythropoietin) [NCBI Gene 2056] {aka DBAL, ECYT5, EP, MVCD2}
- **Diseases:** death (MESH:D003643), bone lesions (MESH:D001847), nephropathy (MESH:D007674), pruritus (MESH:D011537), septic shock (MESH:D012772), hepatosplenomegaly (MESH:C535727), osteolytic lesions (MESH:D030981), bone pain (MESH:D010146), anemia (MESH:D000740), hypoparathyroidism (MESH:D007011), Systemic Oxalosis (MESH:D006959), tumoral syndrome (MESH:D009369), Primary Hyperoxaluria (MESH:D006960), congenital metabolic disorder (MESH:D008659), hepatic enzyme deficiency (MESH:D056486), neurological disorders (MESH:D009461), lithiasic uropathy (MESH:D020347), lymphadenopathy (MESH:D008206)
- **Chemicals:** calcium oxalates (MESH:D002129), oxalate (MESH:D010070)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13037555/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13037555