Metastatic calcification

Metastatic calcification is deposition of calcium salts in otherwise normal tissue, because of elevated serum levels of calcium,^[1] which can occur because of deranged metabolism as well as increased absorption or decreased excretion of calcium and related minerals, as seen in hyperparathyroidism.

In contrast, dystrophic calcification is caused by abnormalities or degeneration of tissues^[2]^[3] resulting in mineral deposition, though blood levels of calcium remain normal. These differences in pathology also mean that metastatic calcification is often found in many tissues throughout a person or animal, whereas dystrophic calcification is localized.

Density-Dependent Colour Scanning Electron Micrograph SEM (DDC-SEM) of cardiovascular calcification, showing in orange calcium phosphate spherical particles (denser material) and, in green, the extracellular matrix (less dense material).^[2]

Metastatic calcification can occur widely throughout the body but principally affects the interstitial tissues of the vasculature, kidneys, lungs, and gastric mucosa. For the latter three, acid secretions or rapid changes in pH levels contribute to the formation of salts.^[4]

References

^ "Cell Injury".
^ ^a ^b Bertazzo, S. et al. Nano-analytical electron microscopy reveals fundamental insights into human cardiovascular tissue calcification. Nature Materials 12, 576-583 (2013).
^ Miller, J. D. Cardiovascular calcification: Orbicular origins. Nature Materials 12, 476-478 (2013).
^ http://gamma.wustl.edu/bs139te145.html

Inborn error of metal metabolism (E83, 275)

Transition metal

high:	Primary iron overload disorder: Hemochromatosis/HFE1 Juvenile/HFE2 HFE3 African iron overload/HFE4 Aceruloplasminemia Atransferrinemia Hemosiderosis

deficiency:	Iron deficiency

high:	Copper toxicity Wilson's disease

deficiency:	Copper deficiency Menkes disease/Occipital horn syndrome

high:	Zinc toxicity

deficiency:	Acrodermatitis enteropathica

Electrolyte

Na⁺ and K⁺

see

PO₄³⁻

high:	Hyperphosphatemia

deficiency:	Hypophosphatemia alkaline phosphatase Hypophosphatasia

Mg²⁺

high:	Hypermagnesemia

deficiency:	Hypomagnesemia

Ca²⁺

high:	Hypercalcaemia Milk-alkali syndrome (Burnett's) Calcinosis (Calciphylaxis, Calcinosis cutis) Calcification (Metastatic calcification, Dystrophic calcification) Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

deficiency:	Hypocalcaemia Osteomalacia Pseudohypoparathyroidism (Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy) Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism

: NUT

, ,

, , /,

drug (//)

Categories

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Metastatic calcification