title: Arteriosclerosis and vascular calcification: causes, clinical assessment and therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arteriosclerosis is a pathological, structural (media vascular calcification) and physiological (modified vascular smooth vessel cells; increased arterial stiffness) alteration of the vessel wall. Through improved assessment methods (functional and imaging), it has become a well-known phenomenon in recent decades. However, its clinical importance was underestimated until recently.
  
  
  METHODS
  Currently available English-speaking data about conditions/diseases associated with arteriosclerosis, its clinical sequels, available diagnostic procedures and therapeutic modalities were reviewed and summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In recent decades, emerging data have brought about a better understanding of causes and consequences of arteriosclerosis and highlight its growing clinical impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although arteriosclerosis showed an independent clinical impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease/end-stage renal disease (CKD/ESRD) and diabetes mellitus, convincing clinical therapy concepts are not available until now. The establishment of novel therapeutic strategies derived from basic research is strongly needed.
authors.affiliation: Charité Centrum 13, Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tölle
authors.affiliation: Charité Centrum 13, Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reshetnik
authors.affiliation: Charité Centrum 13, Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuchardt
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharma AG, Nuernberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höhne
authors.affiliation: Charité Centrum 13, Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Giet
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000375:Aging; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057966:Calcimimetic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D057966:Calcimimetic Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary
keywords: Arterial stiffness; arteriosclerosis; calcification; cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; vascular mineralization