View clinical trials related to Vascular Calcification.
Filter by:Patients on hemodialysis (HD) exhibit an immensely increased cardiovascular mortality associated with extensive vascular calcification (VC). In the past years the development of VC was discovered to be actively regulated and as being influenced by inhibitors of calcification (e.g. matrix-Gla-protein, fetuin-A). MGP is produced by vascular smooth muscle cells and needs post-translational modification by vitamin K dependent gamma-carboxylation to be fully active. Based on the demonstration of increased PIVKA-II levels, about 97% of all HD patients exhibit insufficient carboxylation activity. We therefore aim in this randomized, controlled study to retard the progress of coronary and aortal calcification as assessed by thoracic multislice-CT by the thrice weekly administration of 5 mg vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) to about 100 HD patients over a period of 18 months.
The main objective of this study is to obtain data for the integrated analysis of morphological, functional and biomechanical parameters pertaining to lower limb arteries in various categories of elite athletes (without cardiovascular risk and practicing high- or low-impact aerobic activities which preferentially implicate lower limb activity) as compared to (each other and to) sedentary controls.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients often have high levels of a substance called fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), a phosphorus excreting hormone, which has been related to heart disease. As kidney function declines, less phosphorus is removed by the kidneys and as a result phosphorus accumulates in the blood. In response to elevated phosphorus levels, more FGF-23 is released to help facilitate the excretion of extra phosphorus into the urine. In addition to effects on FGF-23, increased phosphorus levels can lead to calcification (hardening) of the blood vessels in the CKD population. Phosphate binding medicines are used in CKD patients to lower the amount of phosphorus absorbed by the stomach and intestines after eating meals and snacks. In patients with CKD, studies have shown that phosphate binders can lower FGF-23 levels in the blood. Lowering FGF-23 levels in CKD patients may also lower substances in the blood that cause calcification of blood vessels in the CKD population. This study is being done to determine if using phosphate binders, either sevelamer carbonate or calcium acetate, in the earlier stages kidney disease (before dialysis) can decrease FGF-23 and biomarkers (substances in the blood) associated with hardening of the blood vessels and heart disease.