Arteriosclerosis and vascular calcification: causes, clinical assessment and therapy

BACKGROUND: 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. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Currently available English-speaking data about conditions/diseases associated with arteriosclerosis, its clinical sequels, available diagnostic procedures and therapeutic modalities were reviewed and summarized. RESULTS: In recent decades, emerging data have brought about a better understanding of causes and consequences of arteriosclerosis and highlight its growing clinical impact. CONCLUSION: 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.