Rhabdomyolysis as the presenting manifestation of calciphylaxis

A 43-year-old woman was admitted with progressive leg pains and weakness and was found to have rhabdomyolysis. Prior to this admission the patient had hypercalcemia, but this returned to normal following treatment with calcitonin. During the hospitalization, she developed the syndrome of calciphylaxis consisting of necrotic skin and muscle associated with vascular calcification. This is the first case report of rhabdomyolysis caused by calciphylaxis in a patient without chronic renal failure.