Skeletonized coronary arteries: pathophysiological and clinical aspects of vascular calcification

The role of calcification in coronary artery disease is gaining importance, both in research studies and in clinical application. Calcified plaque has long been considered to be the most important atherosclerotic plaque within the arterial tree and frequently presents a challenge for percutaneous in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vascular health and risk management 2011-01, Vol.7, p.143-151
Main Authors: Serrano, Jr, Carlos V, Oranges, Marcelo, Brunaldi, Vitor, de M Soeiro, Alexandre, Torres, Tatiana Andreucci, Nicolau, José Carlos, Ramires, José Antonio F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Atherosclerosis
atherosclerotic plaques
Calcification
Calcinosis - diagnosis
Calcinosis - metabolism
Calcinosis - physiopathology
Cardiovascular disease
coronary
Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis
Coronary Artery Disease - metabolism
Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology
Coronary vessels
Coronary Vessels - metabolism
Coronary Vessels - pathology
Coronary Vessels - physiopathology
Humans
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiopathology
Osteogenesis
Phenotype
Prognosis
Review
Signal Transduction
vascular
vascular calcification
vascular smooth muscle cells
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Summary:The role of calcification in coronary artery disease is gaining importance, both in research studies and in clinical application. Calcified plaque has long been considered to be the most important atherosclerotic plaque within the arterial tree and frequently presents a challenge for percutaneous intervention. Current investigations have shown that plaque calcification has a dynamic course that is closely related to the magnitude of vascular inflammation. Numerous inflammatory factors synthesized during the early stages of atherosclerosis induce the expression and activation of osteoblast-like cells localized in the arterial wall that produce calcium. There is no doubt that the role of these factors in calcification associated with coronary artery disease could be a crucial strategic point in prevention and treatment. A number of diagnostic imaging methods have been developed in recent years, but their performance needs to be improved. In this context, we undertook an update on coronary calcification, focusing on physiopathology, clinical implications, and imaging techniques.
ISSN:1178-2048
1176-6344
1178-2048
DOI:10.2147/VHRM.S16328