Calciphylaxis or vascular oxalosis?

Abstract

We report the case of a 31-year-old female with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 with end-stage kidney disease who developed severe peripheral vascular disease leading to limb amputation initially thought to be secondary to calciphylaxis. However, polarized review of the pathologic specimen revealed calcium oxalate deposition in the lumen of blood vessels. This unusual presentation of systemic oxalosis demonstrates the adverse consequences of elevations of serum oxalate in patients with hyperoxaluria and that levels can acutely worsen with abrupt onset of kidney failure.