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What are the potential therapies for medial vascular calcification?
POTENTIAL THERAPIES THAT DIRECTLY TARGET VASCULAR CALCIFICATION Thiosulfate. The use of thiosulfate to treat vascular calcification stems from reports that it prevents nephrolithiasis... Vitamin K. Vitamin K is the common name for phylloquinone (vitamin K 1) and several menaquinones (vitamin K 2) ...
How do you get rid of a calcified artery?
We describe a case of a massive soft tissue calcification in the right gluteal region in a peritoneal dialysis patient. The patient had severe pain and were disabled. The treatment was converted to an intensive hemodialysis regimen with a minimal calcium load and high dose of cinacalcet. During the treatment, the calcification diminished rapidly from a diameter of 26.6 to 2.9 cm, …
Is sodium thiosulfate effective in the treatment of vascular calcification?
Abstract. A variety of potential therapies for vascular calcification, based either on the underlying biology or physical chemistry or solely on empiric observations in patients, may be effective but lack rigorous testing. Pasch et al. provide convincing evidence that sodium thiosulfate prevents medial vascular calcification in uremic rats.
Should I be concerned about vascular calcifications?
Sep 04, 2020 · MGP is a natural local inhibitor of vascular calcification and the lack of functional carboxylated MGP may contribute to increase vascular calcification. Vitamin K supplement should therefore correct this anomaly and decrease the rate or severity of vascular calcification in this population of patients on long-term maintenance hemodialysis.
How are vascular calcifications treated?
Doctors treat plaque-clogged blood vessels in a variety of ways, including vascular surgery and medicine. Lifestyle changes — quitting smoking, eating healthier foods, and starting to exercise — can decrease the chances of plaque and calcifications forming.Sep 20, 2018
How do you reduce vascular calcifications?
Recently, nutritional supplements have been recognized as a potential tool to reduce calcification. This is particularly true for vitamin K, which acts as an inhibitor of vascular calcification. In addition to vitamin K, other dietary supplements may also modulate vascular function.Dec 30, 2019
How serious is vascular calcification?
Vascular calcification is highly associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, particularly in high risk patients with diabetes and chronic kidney diseases (CKD).
Can vascular calcification be reversed?
Treatments. Coronary calcification is not reversible, but you can prevent it from worsening with lifestyle modifications such as not smoking, managing your blood pressure and cholesterol, and maintaining a healthy weight.
What causes pelvic vascular calcification?
What causes pelvic phleboliths? Pelvic phleboliths form when pressure builds up in a vein. The pressure leads to thrombosis (the formation of a blood clot). The blood clot then calcifies over time.Jun 25, 2018
How common is calcification of the arteries?
The presence of coronary artery calcification is age and gender-dependent. It is present in 90% of men and 67% of women older than the age of 70.
Is calcification of the arteries considered heart disease?
The calcium deposits in your arteries are not related to your diet or any supplements you may be taking. They occur because the cells in your blood vessels are not working as they should. They can be a sign of heart disease, or simply of getting older.
Can vitamin D cause calcification of arteries?
Vascular calcification is a progressive disorder and is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality of the affected patients. Experimental studies have shown that excessive vitamin D activities can induce vascular calcification, and such vascular pathology can be reversed by reducing vitamin D activities.Oct 20, 2010
Can calcified arteries be repaired?
There is no current treatment for hardening of the arteries, which is caused by build-up of bone-like calcium deposits, stiffening the arteries and restricting blood flow to organs and tissues.Jun 12, 2019
Does aspirin reduce plaque in arteries?
"Our findings show that aspirin not only decreases inflammation in the arteries and the growth of the atherosclerotic plaque, but it also beneficially alters the consistency of the plaque that remains."Sep 4, 2002
What causes peritoneal calcification?
Peritoneal calcification is caused by two primary mechanisms. Metastatic calcification may be a result of a systemic mineral imbalance in entities such as uremia or hyperparathyroidism, whereas dystrophic calcification may result from tissue injury, aging, or disease, including malignancy [ 10 ].
Is calcification benign or malignant?
Calcification was considered benign if patients had a history of peritoneal calcification known to have a benign cause and no histopathologic evidence of peritoneal malignancy. Calcification was considered malignant if patients had proven peritoneal carcinomatosis. CT Technique.
What is medial calcification?
Medial calcification is an extracellular event initiated by deposition of hydroxyapatite on elastin fibers. (1) The first step in this process is the formation of CaHPO4, which can be reduced by lowering phosphate concentrations. (2) Thiosulfate may inhibit this reaction by forming ion pairs with calcium ions.
Does bisphosphonate reduce bone mineralization?
Doses of bisphosphonates that inhibit vascular calcification can also reduce bone mineralization (K. Lomashvili et al., unpublished data), and the finding of decreased bone strength by Pasch et al.9 raises the same concern with thiosulfate.
Does calcitriol increase calcification?
Second, calcitriol and calcitriol analogues may increase medial calcification, either through direct actions on vascular smooth muscle or by raising circulating calcium levels. Lastly, smooth muscle-specific factors that promote and inhibit calcification are not addressed by this strategy.
What is vascular calcification?
Vascular calcifications are mineral deposits on the walls of your arteries and veins. These mineral deposits sometimes stick to fatty deposits, or plaques, that are already built up on the walls of a blood vessel.
Where does calcification occur?
Calcifications can occur in the intimal (inside) or medial (middle layer) part of the blood vessel. Each location has different associated risks. Medial calcifications, for example, are most often associated with kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and advanced age.
Does smoking cause calcification?
Long-term smoking and elevated LDL cholesterol levels are associated with an increase in the incidence of calcifications. According to the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, vascular calcifications can raise the rise of: You may not always notice symptoms of vascular calcification.
Is calcification a serious condition?
Vascular calcifications are common but potentially serious. They can increase your risk of stroke and blood clots, according to Cardiovascular Research. It’s important to learn what causes calcification in the body and how to treat it.
What is calcification in breast?
In the body, calcification is actually part of the aging process. Calcifications accumulate in the vessels, heart, or valves as calcium travels through the bloodstream.
Is osteoporosis more common in postmenopausal women?
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome are at a greater risk of developing vascular calcifications. However, they are more common in those with chronic kidney disease.
What is UPMC heart and vascular?
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute has long been a leader in cardiovascular care, with a rich history in clinical research and innovation. As one of the first heart transplant centers in the country and as the developer of one of the first heart-assist devices, UPMC has contributed to advancing the field of cardiovascular medicine.
What are the symptoms of calcification?
At times, any of these symptoms can be severe: Bone pain. Bone spurs (occasionally visible as lumps under your skin) Breast mass or lump. Eye irritation or decreased vision.
What causes calcification in the body?
Several factors increase the risk of developing abnormal calcification. Not all people with risk factors will get calcification. Risk factors for calcification include: 1 Alcoholism 2 Autoimmune disorders 3 Genetic history of a calcium metabolism disorder 4 Internal tissue injuries that cause inflammatory reactions
What does a calcification on a mammogram mean?
Calcifications that are apparent on mammograms may signal the presence of breast cancer, or they may occur with benign breast disease.
Can calcification be reversed?
Calcification is generally not treatable and cannot be reversed. However, calcific band keratopathy, a calcification of the cornea of the eye, can be treated. In addition, disorders that are complications of or associated with calcification are often very treatable.
What are the symptoms of dementia?
Seek prompt medical care for serious symptoms, such as bony deformities; depression; difficulty with memory; irritability and mood changes; loss of vision or changes in vision; muscle twitching, spasms or seizures; nausea with or without vomiting; or signs of dementia.
Where does calcium go in the body?
Most of the calcium absorbed by your body ends up in your bones and teeth, where it is most needed. Excess calcium is usually dissolved in the bloodstream for excretion in the urine, but it is normal for a certain amount to collect in an area of the body tissues; this collection of calcium then hardens the tissue.
Is calcification a serious condition?
In some cases, calcification can be part of a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have complications of calcification, including kidney stones, Paget’s disease (abnormal bone tissue loss and reformation), pineal gland tumors, or severe hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood), and experience any of these serious symptoms including:
