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1.
Is arterial calcification in children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease a rare finding?
de Menezes, FL, Koch-Nogueira, PC, do Val, MLDM, Pestana, JOM, Jorgetti, V, Dos Reis, MA, Dos Reis Monteiro, MLG, Leite, HP
Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.). 2019;(7):696-702
Abstract
AIM: To investigate if calcification and intimal media thickness (IMT) of arteries are present in children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease and to describe the risk factors associated with these alterations. METHODS In an observational, cross-sectional prospective study, 68 patients were evaluated at the time of renal transplantation. A fragment of the inferior epigastric artery was removed during surgery for histopathological analysis to verify the presence or not of arterial calcification. Two outcomes were considered: the presence of calcium deposition and the measurement of the IMT of the artery. The potential exposure variables were: age, chronic kidney disease aetiology, diagnosis time, systolic blood pressure (SBP), use of oral active vitamin D, homocysteine and C-reactive protein. RESULTS No arterial calcification was observed in the studied sample. The median value of the IMT of the inferior epigastric artery was 166 μm (interquartile range = 130-208). SBP standard deviation score and age were the only factors associated with this outcome. There was no statistical interaction between SBP and age with the IMT (P = 0.280). CONCLUSION Arterial calcification is rare in children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease. The factors associated with IMT were age and SBP.
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2.
An overview of the mechanisms in vascular calcification during chronic kidney disease.
Voelkl, J, Cejka, D, Alesutan, I
Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension. 2019;(4):289-296
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Chronic kidney disease (CKD) facilitates a unique environment to strongly accelerate vascular calcification - the pathological deposition of calcium-phosphate in the vasculature. These calcifications are associated with the excessive cardiovascular mortality of CKD patients. RECENT FINDINGS Vascular calcification is a multifaceted active process, mediated, at least partly, by vascular smooth muscle cells. These cells are able to transdifferentiate into cells with osteo/chondrogenic properties, which exert multiple effects to facilitate vascular tissue mineralization. As the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology increases, first therapeutic concepts begin to emerge. SUMMARY This brief review provides an overview on the so far known mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of vascular calcification in CKD.
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3.
Coronary artery calcium: A technical argument for a new scoring method.
Willemink, MJ, van der Werf, NR, Nieman, K, Greuter, MJW, Koweek, LM, Fleischmann, D
Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography. 2019;(6):347-352
Abstract
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a strong predictor for future cardiovascular events. Traditionally CAC has been quantified using the Agatston score, which was developed in the late 1980s for electron beam tomography (EBT). While EBT has been completely replaced by modern multiple-detector row CT technology, the traditional CAC scoring method by Agatston remains in use, although the literature indicates suboptimal reproducibility and subjects being incorrectly classified. The traditional Agatston scoring method counteracts the technical advances of CT technology, and prevents the use of thinner sections, obtained at lower tube voltage and overall decreased radiation exposure that has become available to other CT applications. Moreover, recent studies have shown that not only the total amount of CAC, but also its density and distribution in the coronary arterial tree may be of prognostic value. Acquisition and reconstruction techniques thus need to be adapted for modern CT technology and optimized for CAC quantification. In this review we describe the technical limitations of the Agatston score followed by our suggestions for developing a new and more robust CAC quantification method.
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4.
Cardiovascular Risk Heterogeneity in Adults with Diabetes: Selective Use of Coronary Artery Calcium in Statin Use Decision-making.
Sarkar, S, Orimoloye, OA, Nass, CM, Blumenthal, RS, Martin, SS
Journal of general internal medicine. 2019;(11):2643-2647
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Abstract
Current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association guidelines recommend statin therapy for all patients with diabetes between the ages of 40 and 75, including those without cardiovascular disease (CVD). While diabetes is a major CVD risk factor, not all patients with diabetes have an equal risk of CVD. Thus, a more risk-based approach warrants consideration when recommending statin therapy for the primary prevention of CVD. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a noninvasive imaging modality that can help risk stratify patients with diabetes for future CVD events. CAC has been extensively studied in large cohorts such as the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and found to outperform other novel risk stratification tools including carotid intima-media thickness. Moreover, a CAC score of 0 has been shown to be useful in downgrading the estimated risk of a CVD event in patients with diabetes and an intermediate Pooled Cohort Equation score. As clinicians weigh the recommendation for a lifelong therapy and the problem of statin nonadherence and patients weigh concerns about adverse effects of statins, the decision to initiate statin therapy in patients with diabetes is ideally a shared one between patients and providers, and CAC could facilitate this discussion.
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The "tangential calcium" sign.
Ponnatapura, J, Dyer, RB
Abdominal radiology (New York). 2019;(8):2933-2934
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Apixaban versus warfarin in evaluation of progression of atherosclerotic and calcified plaques (prospective randomized trial).
Win, TT, Nakanishi, R, Osawa, K, Li, D, Susaria, SS, Jayawardena, E, Hamal, S, Kim, M, Broersen, A, Kitslaar, PH, et al
American heart journal. 2019;:129-133
Abstract
Warfarin has been showed to increase vascular calcification. Apixaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, has no interaction with vitamin K and its effect on coronary plaques is unknown. We randomized and compared warfarin and apixaban on progression of coronary atherosclerotic plaques measured by coronary computed tomographic angiography in 66 subjects with non-valvular atrial fibrillation over the period of one-year follow up. There was significant higher total, calcified and low attenuation plaque volume in the group randomized to warfarin as compared to apixaban (all P < .05). Greater volume of total (β2 = 28.54; P = .03), low attenuation plaque (β2 = 3.58; P = .02) and calcified (β2 = 14.10; P = .005) plaque progression was observed in the VKA_group.
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The Current Status of Lithoplasty in Vascular Calcifications: A Systematic Review.
Khan, S, Li, B, Salata, K, Aljabri, BA, Hussain, MA, Khan, M, de Mestral, C, Verma, S, Al-Omran, M
Surgical innovation. 2019;(5):588-598
Abstract
Background. Lithoplasty is a method of alleviating vessel stenosis by using localized high-speed pressure waves to disrupt calcium deposits. A systematic review of the literature was performed to summarize the early outcomes of lithoplasty in peripheral and coronary artery disease. Methods. We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception to July 2018 for original studies describing the use of lithoplasty. Study selection and data extraction were performed in duplicate, with a third author resolving discrepancies. Results. A total of 9 records were included from the 201 studies eligible for screening. In total, 211 patients with vascular calcification lesions underwent lithoplasty. The patients on average had an age of 73.2 years and had a maximum follow-up period of 5.5 months. Most lesions (72%, 152/212) were in peripheral artery beds, with the remainder occurring in coronary vessels. Lesioned vessels typically had severe calcium burden 62.6% (131/210), with an average initial stenosis of 76.6% (range, 68.1%-77.8%). After treatment, the average residual stenosis was 21.0% (range, 13.3%-26.2%), with a mean acute gain of vessel diameter of 2.5 mm. A limited number of type D dissections occurred, with a total of 2.4% (5/211) of patients requiring stent implantation. Conclusions. Recent studies suggest that lithoplasty is a promising intervention to decrease vessel stenosis in both peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease, with minimal occurrence of major adverse events. Further research studies, with more rigorous study designs, are needed to determine the effectiveness of lithoplasty in vascular calcifications.
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8.
Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography and Calcium Scoring.
DuBose, CO, Youngman, K, Barymon, D
Radiologic technology. 2019;(3):259CT-275CT
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and describes many heart and vessel disorders. One of these disorders, coronary artery disease (CAD), occurs because of narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Computed tomography (CT) is used to diagnose CAD because it displays coronary artery stenosis and calcified plaques in the coronary arteries. Coronary CT angiography visualizes coronary arteries for narrowing, and coronary artery calcium scoring visualizes calcium-containing plaques in the coronary arteries. Technological advancements have helped minimize radiation exposure associated with these examinations.
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Citric-acid dialysate improves the calcification propensity of hemodialysis patients: A multicenter prospective randomized cross-over trial.
Ter Meulen, KJ, Dekker, MJE, Pasch, A, Broers, NJH, van der Sande, FM, van der Net, JB, Konings, CJAM, Gsponer, IM, Bachtler, MDN, Gauly, A, et al
PloS one. 2019;(12):e0225824
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The concentration of dialysate calcium (dCa) has been suggested to affect vascular calcification, but evidence is scarce. Calcification propensity reflects the intrinsic capacity of serum to prevent calcium and phosphate to precipitate. The use of citric-acid dialysate may have a beneficial effect on the calcification propensity due to the chelating effect on calcium and magnesium. The aim of this study was to compare the intradialytic and short-term effects of haemodialysis with either standard acetic-acid dialysate with dCa1.50 (A1.5) or dCa1.25 (A1.25), as well as citric-acid dialysate with dCa1.50 (C1.5) in bicarbonate dialysis on the calcification propensity of serum. METHODS Chronic stable hemodialysis patients were included. This multicenter randomized cross-over study consisted out of a baseline week (A1.5), followed by the randomized sequence of A1.25 or C1.5 for one week after which the alternate treatment was provided after a washout week with A1.5. Calcification propensity of serum was assessed by time-resolved nephelometry where the T50 reflects the transition time between formation of primary and secondary calciprotein particles. RESULTS Eighteen patients (median age 70 years) completed the study. Intradialytic change in T50 was increased with C1.5 (121 [90-152]min) compared to A1.25 (83 [43-108]min, p<0.001) and A1.5 (66 [18-102]min, p<0.001). During the treatment week, predialysis T50 increased significantly from the first to the third session with C1.5 (271 [234-291] to 280 [262-339]min, p = 0.002) and with A1.25 (274 [213-308] to 307 [256-337]min, p<0.001), but not with A1.5 (284 [235-346] to 300 [247-335]min, p = 0.33). CONCLUSION Calcification propensity, as measured by the change in T50, improved significantly during treatment in C1.5 compared to A1.25 and A1.5. Long-term studies are needed to investigate the effects of different dialysate compositions concentrations on vascular calcification and bone mineral disorders.
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10.
Role of breast vascular calcification in predicting cardiovascular risk.
Mendonça, RM, Araruna, AL, Alves, FV, Souza, TR, Egito, EST, Gonçalves, AK
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2019;(2):232-233
Abstract
We identified a positive association between presence of breast vascular calcification and high coronary calcium score, and thus with high cardiovascular risk.