Pathophysiology and Clinical Impacts of Chronic Kidney Disease on Coronary Artery Calcification

The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has increased in recent years. Adverse cardiovascular events have become the main cause of life-threatening events in patients with CKD, and vascular calcification is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification, especially coronary artery calcification, is more prevalent, severe, rapidly progressive, and harmful in patients with CKD. Some features and risk factors are unique to vascular calcification in patients with CKD; the formation of vascular calcification is not only influenced by the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells, but also by electrolyte and endocrine dysfunction, uremic toxin accumulation, and other novel factors. The study on the mechanism of vascular calcification in patients with renal insufficiency can provide a basis and new target for the prevention and treatment of this disease. This review aims to illustrate the impact of CKD on vascular calcification and to discuss the recent research data on the pathogenesis and factors involved in vascular calcification, mainly focusing on coronary artery calcification, in patients with CKD.