Phosphate overload accelerates vascular aging in uremic patients

Overview

Vascular calcification is a very common event in patients affected by diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, it has been well documented that abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism in CKD patients are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Elevated serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product levels play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular mineralization in uremic patients and also appear to be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Together with classical passive precipitation of calciumphosphate in soft tissues, during the last decade it has been demonstrated that inorganic phosphate may cause extraskeletal calcification directly through a real “ossification” of the tunica media in the vasculature of CKD patients. Therefore, control of phosphate retention is now an even more crucial target of treatment in patients affected by chronic kidney disease. (Heart International 2006; 2: 6-11)

Keywords

Vascular calcification, Phosphate, Chronic kidney disease

Correspondence

Mario Cozzolino, MD, Renal Unit, Ospedale San Paolo, Azienda Ospedale San Paolo, Via A. di Rudinì, 8, 20142 Milano – Italy, mariocozzolino@hotmail.com