Successful treatment of calciphylaxis with intravenous sodium thiosulfate.

Calciphylaxis is a dreaded complication of renal failure characterized by nodular subcutaneous calcification and painful tissue necrosis often leading to ulceration, secondary infection, and high mortality rates. The case of a woman receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis who had a typical clinical presentation of calciphylaxis confirmed by x-ray and technetium scan findings is described. After nonresponse to conventional therapy, treatment with intravenous sodium thiosulfate 3 times weekly was begun, and she had rapid and dramatic relief of signs and symptoms and improvement of technetium scans.