Respiratory Failure: A Rare Complication of Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorder

Background: Disordered metabolism of bone and minerals is a problem frequently encountered in patients with chronic kidney disease. Early biochemical changes include altered calcium and phosphate balance, while advanced disease produces reduced bone strength and extraskeletal calcification. The syndrome describing this constellation of findings is termed chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder. Case Report: This report details a rare and extreme manifestation of chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder in a patient on long-term hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure. Progressive abnormalities of the thoracic skeleton were ultimately severe enough to produce restrictive lung physiology and symptomatic respiratory failure. Conclusion: Cases of chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder with pronounced clinical sequelae occur uncommonly in contemporary practice because of early detection and effective therapies. To our knowledge, this report is the first case in the literature of severe thoracic involvement manifesting as respiratory failure.