Dystrophic calcinosis cutis in pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic disorder in which elastic fibers become calcified with prominent cutaneous, ocular, and cardiovascular features. Calcinosis cutis is an acquired disorder of calcium deposition in cutaneous tissues that occurs as one of the following forms: dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, and iatrogenic. We report a case of a woman with PXE who developed widespread dystrophic calcinosis cutis in areas affected by PXE. Although tumoral calcification and nephrolithiasis have been reported in patients with PXE, only one other case in the English-language literature of PXE and calcinosis cutis has been reported and this case was characterized by small, milia-like papules on the front of the neck, without significant discomfort, whereas our patient had widespread involvement that was very painful and pruritic. On 6-month follow-up, this patient had only mild improvement after treatment with an anti-itch lotion and aluminum hydroxide, with which she was noncompliant.