Fetuin A and abdominal aorta calcification in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on regular hemodialysis, have unique Mineral and endocrine disturbances (Ball et al., 2015). Vascular calcification is a dynamic process influenced by bone kidney disease, as well as an imbalance between promoters and inhibitors of extra-osseous bone formation. Calcification is defined as the accumulation of calcium salts in tissues. This is a specific type of mineralization, which in contrast to calcification involves the deposition of any mineral (Adragao et al., 2009). Vascular calcification can occur in the myocardium, cardiac valves and blood vessels, and can lead to serious medical problems including valve stenosis, increased stiffening and decreased vascular compliance, caliphylaxis, and increased risk of myocardial infarction (Charles, 2009). Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is a microvascular occlusion syndrome with mural calcification of the arterioles leading to severe ischemia of the tissues. It occurs in up to 4% of patients undergoing long-term dialysis (Nigwekar et al., 2013). Risk factors for the development of calciphylaxis include female gender, white ethnicity, diabetic patients, obesity and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Triggers such as the use of vitamin D medications, calcium-based phosphate binders