Abstract
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education
Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is characterized by ischemic tissue necrosis secondary to an obliterative vasculopathy. On histological examination, small and medium-sized arteries demonstrate medial calcification, intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis. However, vascular pathology may not be evident when small skin biopsies are examined. Subtle stippled perieccrine calcification revealed by calcium staining (von Kossa) is highly specific for calciphylaxis and can aid in the histological diagnosis of calciphylaxis when vascular calcification is not evident on small skin biopsies.