Inflammation and vascular calcifications

Vascular calcifications are feature of late stages of atherosclerosis and are associated with cardiovascular disease. Numerous pathologies like diabetes or chronic renal insufficiency were also associated with the development of vascular calcification particularly in the artery media. In the past, vascular calcifications were considered like a passive and degenerative event. Several studies have allowed demonstrating that they are the results of an active and inflammatory regulated process. A new idea emerges related to the rote of calcifications as a cause of inflammation resulting in a vicious circle between inflammation and vascular calcification. This revue proposes to present an update on these different phenomenons. (C) 2010 Association Societe de Nephrologie. Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.