Title:Editorial: Vascular Calcification, Cardiovascular Risk and microRNAs
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Konstantinos Tziomalos, Vasilios G. Athyros and Asterios Karagiannis
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Vascular calcification, cardiovascular risk, microRNA, statins, coronary artery calcium, aortic stenosis.
Abstract: Vascular calcification, both in the coronary and in the peripheral arteries, is associated with
increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, agents that prevent vascular calcification (e.g. estrogens
or calcimimetic agents) might have neutral or detrimental effects on CV events. Moreover, statins and
antihypertensive agents do not appear to modify vascular calcification, despite their established
benefits on CV disease prevention. On the other hand, recent data suggest that microRNAs play a role
in the regulation of vascular calcification. It is therefore possible that modulation of the expression of
microRNAs might represent a useful strategy for preventing or delaying the progression of this process.
