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

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.