title: Warfarin and Vascular Calcification.
abstract: The vitamin K antagonist, warfarin, is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant. Use of warfarin is associated with an increase in systemic calcification, including in the coronary and peripheral vasculature. This increase in vascular calcification is due to inhibition of the enzyme matrix gamma-carboxyglutamate Gla protein (MGP). MGP is a vitamin K-dependent protein that ordinarily prevents systemic calcification by scavenging calcium phosphate in the tissues. Warfarin-induced systemic calcification can result in adverse clinical effects. In this review article, we highlight some of the key translational and clinical studies that associate warfarin with vascular calcification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Poterucha
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine Section, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: sgoldhaber@partners.org.
authors.forename: Samuel Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Goldhaber
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Matrix gamma-carboxyglutamate Gla protein; Vascular calcification; Warfarin