Diagnosis

To determine if you have calciphylaxis, your doctor will review your medical history, assess your symptoms and do a physical exam. Tests may include:

• Skin biopsy. To diagnose calciphylaxis, your doctor may remove a small tissue sample from an area of affected skin for analysis.
• Blood tests. Blood samples measure a variety of substances in your blood — calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, abnormalities in blood-clotting factors, aluminum, urea nitrogen, creatinine and albumin, among others — to help your doctor assess your kidney and liver function.
• Imaging studies. X-rays may show branch-like calcium deposits in the blood vessels (vascular calcifications) that are common in calciphylaxis and in other advanced kidney diseases.