Arterial calcium deposit

Arterial calcium deposits are aggregates of calcium salts (generally hydroxyapatite) that accumulate in the walls of arteries as a result of chronic vascular injury, inflammation, and/or disordered mineral metabolism. They commonly result from atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or aging, and are classified by location—intimal, typically associated with atherosclerotic plaques, and medial, often linked to metabolic disease or aging. Their presence signifies advanced vascular disease and is a powerful independent predictor of cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, but they do not represent a discrete drug target or molecular entity.

Other names

Arterial calcificationvascular calcificationcoronary artery calcification (when referring to heart vessels)medial artery calcificationintimal artery calcificationcalcified plaquecalcium plaque

Statins: inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, lower cholesterol, delay atherosclerosis progression (may modestly impact calcification process by slowing inflammation). Bisphosphonates: inhibit bone mineralization; experimental for vascular calcification. Sodium thiosulfate: proposed chelation of vascular calcium (experimental).