Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) Practice Exam

Which medication class is not recommended for calciphylaxis due to potential exacerbation of the condition?

1. Corticosteroids

2. Antibiotics

3. Anticoagulants

4. Immunosuppressants

The correct answer is: Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are not recommended for the management of calciphylaxis primarily due to their potential to exacerbate the condition. Calciphylaxis is a serious and rare condition characterized by calcification of blood vessels leading to ischemic skin lesions, often occurring in patients with chronic kidney disease. Corticosteroids can cause further calcification and may impair wound healing, which can worsen the patient's skin lesions and overall condition. In contrast, other classes of medications mentioned, such as antibiotics, can be important for treating secondary infections that may arise from the skin lesions associated with calciphylaxis without directly worsening the underlying condition. Anticoagulants can be utilized to manage clotting factors without promoting calcification, and immunosuppressants might be used cautiously under specific circumstances, although they do not specifically exacerbate calciphylaxis as corticosteroids might. Thus, corticosteroids are particularly contraindicated in this context due to their propensity to worsen the vascular and skin implications of calciphylaxis.