Vascular calcification in health and disease

Calcification plays a significant role in the development and progression of vascular disease. It involves the abnormal deposition of calcium phosphate crystals within the vascular intimal or medial layer. Intimal calcification is commonly associated with atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries, leading to reduced elasticity and narrowed vessels. Intimal calcification is typically linked with inflammation and plaque rupture, contributing to acute cardiovascular events such as heart attacks.