Abstract:

This review article explains that the term calciphylaxis originated from an animal model
studying dermatomyositis in 1961. Shortly, it was borrowed to explain the calcification syndrome found in chronic kidney disease patients. But calciphylaxis in animal model and the calcification syndrome in kidney patients have different pathogenesis and different pathological findings. Obviously calciphylaxis is a misnomer for kidney patients. Therefore, calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) was proposed to explain the calcification syndrome in kidney patients. However, this syndrome can also occur in patients without kidney failure, including patients with normal kidney function, which will make CUA not suitable for such patients. Therefore,recently we proposed the term“calcific arteriolopathy”to more accurately describe this calcification syndrome in patients with normal kidney function as well as those with kidney diseases. We also shared our experience in diagnosing CUA. For comparison, Martorell HYTILU (hypertensive ischemic leg ulcer), a diagnosis not commonly made in many countries, is reviewed. Apparently HYTILU and calciphylaxis are the same entity. In addition, we also points out that the term calciphylaxis is the combination of calcium and anaphylaxis,
while  while “钙化防御” “ (calcification defense”)is obviously from the combination of calcium and prophylaxis. In other words, the previous translator mistook anaphylaxis for prophylaxis. Therefore calcific arteriolopathy is a better term to describe the syndrome and is easier to be translated into Chinese.

Key words: Calciphylaxis, Misnomer, 钙化防御, Wrong translation, Calcific arteriolopathy