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Updated: May 12, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
[Vascular calcifications and vitamin K deficiency: a modifiable risk factor in chronic kidney disease]
1Service de néphrologie et d'hypertension, Département de médecine interne, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. olivier.phan@chuv.ch
Abstract:
The mechanisms of vascular calcifications in chronic renal failure are complex. Apart for clotting factors, vitamin K-dependent proteins include matrix Gla protein. Glutamic acid residues in matrix Gla protein are carboxylated by vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylase, which enables it to inhibit calcification. The purpose of this review is to discuss available evidence implicating vitamin K as a modifiable risk factor in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification in renal diseases.
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