Arteriosclerosis and vascular calcification: causes, clinical assessment and therapy

Arteriosclerosis is a pathological, structural (media vascular calcification) and physiological (modified vascular smooth vessel cells; increased arterial stiffness) alteration of the vessel wall. Through improved assessment methods (functional and imaging), it has become a well-known phenomenon in recent decades. However, its clinical importance was underestimated until recently.

Currently available English-speaking data about conditions/diseases associated with arteriosclerosis, its clinical sequels, available diagnostic procedures and therapeutic modalities were reviewed and summarized.

In recent decades, emerging data have brought about a better understanding of causes and consequences of arteriosclerosis and highlight its growing clinical impact.

Although arteriosclerosis showed an independent clinical impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease/end-stage renal disease (CKD/ESRD) and diabetes mellitus, convincing clinical therapy concepts are not available until now. The establishment of novel therapeutic strategies derived from basic research is strongly needed.