title: Impact of treatment with calcimimetics on hyperparathyroidism and vascular mineralization.
abstract: Soft tissue calcification that involves primarily the medial portion of the arterial vasculature is a widely recognized and common complication of chronic kidney disease Vascular calcification (VC) causes increased arterial stiffness and contributes to the high cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. The pathogenesis of VC is complex and includes factors that promote calcification and others that inhibit calcification. Studies in dialysis patients have shown a correlation between VC and a number of uremia-related factors. Overall, abnormalities in calcium and phosphate metabolism, such as hyperphosphatemia and a raised serum calcium-phosphorus product traditionally have been thought of as important determinants in patients with chronic renal failure. Common therapeutic interventions in secondary hyperparathyroidism have come under scrutiny for associations with the development of VC. Calcimimetics provide a means of controlling serum levels of parathyroid hormone in secondary hyperparathyroidism without increasing the calcium-phosphorus product and, more important, may lower the risk for VC in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Valdecilla Universitario Hospital, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. martinal@unican.es
authors.forename: Angel L M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Francisco
authors.forename: Celestino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piñera
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palomar
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000069449:Cinacalcet; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D009281:Naphthalenes; D002118:Calcium; D000069449:Cinacalcet