Vascular and arterial calcification in peritoneal dialysis patients--state-of-the-art 2012

Vascular calcification is a major challenge to the long-term health of many patients with chronic kidney disease, and patients receiving peritoneal dialysis therapy are no exception to this. The mechanisms behind vascular calcification are complex and diverse. There are several different imaging techniques that can be used to interrogate the vasculature in these patients, and the relative merits of these as research and screening tools we discuss. There are some recent epidemiological studies which throw fresh light on the implications of the development or progression of vascular calcification. Finally, an animal model experiment is reported which one day may open up the possibility of a successful therapeutic intervention.