Extensive myocardial calcifications in a dialysis patient: A porcelain heart manifesting with abdominal pain

Abstract

This case report describes a 41-year-old male patient with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis presenting with upper abdominal pain and mild thigh numbness. CT chest demonstrated extensive myocardial calcifications and left atrial thrombus. This case emphasizes the clinical relevance of myocardial calcifications, especially in patients with end-stage renal disease. It also highlights the potential association between these calcifications and complications such as atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic events. The findings emphasize the need for diagnostic vigilance and an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of myocardial calcifications in the context of renal disease.

Keywords

• Myocardial calcification
• Cardiac calcinosis
• Chronic kidney disease
• End-stage renal disease
• Thromboembolism
• Left atrial/atrial appendage thrombus