Warfarin-induced calciphylaxis in patients with normal renal function.

OBJECTIVE

Calciphylaxis is a rare and potentially life-threatening cause of skin necrosis and is poorly recognized by clinicians in non-uraemic patients.

METHODS

We report five cases of warfarin-induced calciphylaxis in patients with normal renal function. In four cases, sodium thiosulphate was successfully used as a treatment. No other predisposing factors besides obesity and warfarin were found in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Previously only few cases of solely warfarin-induced calciphylaxis have been described. Treatment with sodium thiosulphate has shown promising results, and there is thus a need to improve the recognition of calciphylaxis.