Author/Editor		Pečovnik-Balon, Breda
Title		Cardiovascular calcification in patients with end-stage renal disease
Type		članek
Source		Ther Apher Dial
Vol. and No.		Letnik 9, št. 3
Publication year		2005
Volume		str. 208-10
Language		eng
Abstract		Vascular calcifications are very frequent extraosseous calcifications in patients with chronic renal disease. They occur in the intima and in the media. They are associated with decreased arterial elasticity and increased mortality. The risk factors are: advanced age, duration of dialysis treatment, diabetes, increased phosphate concentration, the dose of Ca-containing phosphate binders and inflammation. It is now well established that vascular smooth muscle cells actively take up phosphate to form bioapatite. This process is associated with a phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells during which they express osteoblast markers. Lipids and inflammatory cytokines also increase bioapatite formation. Calcification inhibitors are matrix Gla protein and fetuin-A. Decreased serum fetuin-A concentration is associated with a higher mortality rate in dialysis patients. An important preventive measure for vascular calcification is the substitution of Ca-containing by non-Ca-containing phosphate binders.
Descriptors		KIDNEY FAILURE, CHRONIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES CALCINOSIS RISK FACTORS