Calcinosis Universalis

• Diffuse cutaneous, subcutaneous and sometimes muscular calcification

• Usually affects children and young adults

• Not actual bone formation

• More linear than calcifications in scleroderma (calcinosis circumscripta)

• Seen with dermatomyositis (polymyositis)

  • Dermatomyositis

    • Damaged chondroitin sulfate, atrophy of muscles, followed by calcification of muscle and subcu tissue

    • Ages 5-10 and again in 50s

      • More common in females

    • Linear and confluent calcifications in soft tissues of extremities

    • Acro-osteolysis

    • Chest-may have infiltrates associated

  • Clinically

    • Weakness of respiratory muscles

    • Erythematous rash of eyelids

    • Proximal muscle weakness

    • Associated with a high incidence of malignancies of GI tract, lung, ovary , breast, kidney

• May resemble myositis ossificans progressiva

  • Myositis ossificans progressive (fibrodyplasia ossificans progressiva)

    • Begins with subcutaneous, painful masses in neck

      • Progresses down back over shoulders, chest, abdomen

    • Rounded or linear calcification starting in neck

    • More clumplike in places than  calcinosis universalis

    • Ossification of voluntary muscles

Dermatomyositis. Sheet-like calcifications seen in patients with
dermatomyositis is called calcinosis universalis because of its wide-spread distribution.
This is more likely to occur in younger patients with dermatomyositis.
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