[Mechanism of vascular calcification].
Vascular calcification, especially in coronary artery not only serves as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis, but also predicts a higher risk of myocardial infarction and death. Its pathogenesis involves an active mineralization process by chondrogenic and osteogenic cells as well as a passive precipitation of minerals. Since atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammation, plaque calcification is conceptualized as a chondrogenic and/or osteogenic process associated with chronic vascular inflammation.
Shioi
Atsushi
A
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans