Are there any other contributing factors that raise my risk of developing calciphylaxis?
Are there any other contributing factors that raise my risk of developing calciphylaxis?
Several conditions and risk factors might have connections to calciphylaxis, but none are proven causes. They include:
- Exposure to any of the sensitizers or triggers mentioned above.
- Kidney problems. The vast majority of people who develop calciphylaxis are in the final stages of kidney failure and are on dialysis.
- Obesity. This condition makes your risk of developing calciphylaxis four times higher.
- Autoimmune diseases. This is especially true for people who aren’t on dialysis or in the later stages of kidney disease. Examples of these conditions include lupus, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and more.
- Liver disease. Alcoholic hepatitis, which is liver inflammation or disease from alcohol abuse, is a possible risk factor.
- Warfarin. The anticoagulant warfarin blocks your body’s use of vitamin K, which is essential in how your blood clots. Vitamin K may also be part of why calciphylaxis happens, though more research is necessary to confirm this.
- Corticosteroids. These medications treat swelling and inflammation. People who develop calciphylaxis have often been on corticosteroids recently. However, corticosteroid use is very common, so just how much of a risk factor these medications might be is unknown.