Cardiac abnormalities as a sign of hyperparathyroidism are common. A spectacular pitfall of peracute extended myocardiac hypercalcemia is reported. The history of a 30-year-old woman included symptoms such as insufficiency of the kidneys since childhood, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and hemodialysis for approximately 4 years. After kidney transplantation, the patient died from progressive heart failure. Three days before she died, CT showed a nearly white heart, and myocardial scintigraphy revealed a total infarction. The autopsy revealed a heart of normal size but with a weight of 590 g and with nearly bony texture. The histologic examination showed extended calcifications of the entire myocardium, thus explaining these findings. Laboratory photographs and electron microscopic images will be demonstrated. The metabolic pathogenesis of tertiary hyperparathyroidism and calciphylaxis is discussed. "Malignant" progression after kidney transplantation is stressed.

Prognosis of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, Ssc) is largely depending on involvement of internal organs. Abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract are found most frequently (85%), especially decreased motility of the oesophagus, which has little impact on the longterm clinical course of Ssc. Pulmonary manifestations can be demonstrated in 40-90% of patients; one must distinguish between pulmonary hypertension or fibrotic lung disease. The heart is affected in 50% of cases. Patchy or diffuse myocardial fibrosis, as well as pericarditis and pericardial effusions can induce symptoms of arrhythmia or congestive heart failure. Renal involvement is associated with increased mortality and occurs in 45% of Ssc, producing proteinuria, hypertension, scleroderma renal crisis and renal failure. In conclusion, involvement of the lungs, heart and kidneys are determining factors for the longterm course of systemic sclerosis.

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A 43 year old woman suffered from an intermittent painful livedo racemosa at the back since her childhood. Her clinical course was complicated by ulcerations. In careful clinical investigations no signs of an underlying disease could be found, in particular a Sneddon syndrome could be excluded. By means of both conservative and surgical treatments, initial healing of the ulcerations was achieved but relapses occurred. Cyclic infusions of iloprost achieved long-term clearing of the ulcerations and disappearance of the pain. To the best of our knowledge the effectiveness of this treatment has not been described for this disease in the literature.