title: Vascular calcification, bone and mineral metabolism after kidney transplantation.
abstract: The development of end stage renal failure can be seen as a catastrophic health event and patients with this condition are considered at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease among any other patient groups and risk categories. Although kidney transplantation was hailed as an optimal solution to such devastating disease, many issues related to immune-suppressive drugs soon emerged and it became evident that cardiovascular disease would remain a vexing problem. Progression of chronic kidney disease is accompanied by profound alterations of mineral and bone metabolism that are believed to have an impact on the cardiovascular health of patients with advanced degrees of renal failure. Cardiovascular risk factors remain highly prevalent after kidney transplantation, some immune-suppression drugs worsen the risk profile of graft recipients and the alterations of mineral and bone metabolism seen in end stage renal failure are not completely resolved. Whether this complex situation promotes progression of vascular calcification, a hall-mark of advanced chronic kidney disease, and whether vascular calcifications contribute to the poor cardiovascular outcome of post-transplant patients is reviewed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Luis D'Marco, Unidad Avanzada de Investigación y Diagnostico Ecográfico y Renal, Clínica Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Ordaz 8050, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Marco
authors.affiliation: Luis D'Marco, Unidad Avanzada de Investigación y Diagnostico Ecográfico y Renal, Clínica Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Ordaz 8050, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellasi
authors.affiliation: Luis D'Marco, Unidad Avanzada de Investigación y Diagnostico Ecográfico y Renal, Clínica Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Ordaz 8050, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzaferro
authors.affiliation: Luis D'Marco, Unidad Avanzada de Investigación y Diagnostico Ecográfico y Renal, Clínica Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Ordaz 8050, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raggi
keywords: Bone fractures; Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder; Mortality; cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; morbidity