Potential Cross-Talk Between Arterial Calcifications

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries, remains a major global health challenge. Vascular calcification (VC) is a critical component of atherosclerosis . VC can reduce the flexibility and compliance of the blood vessel wall, increase the instability of atherosclerotic plaque, and contribute to intravascular blood clotting, vascular obstruction, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction. Furthermore, it can exacerbate cardiac workload .

Mediators from peripheral tissues, including inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines, are released into the circulation and may affect the heart. Coronary artery disease (CAD) also prompts the heart to release pro-inflammatory cytokines into the bloodstream. Cardiokines, which are heart-derived cytokines, can exert significant endocrine effects on other tissues, leading to damage in various peripheral organs .

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which attach to receptor cell surfaces, can directly facilitate signal transmission or transfer their contents into the cell to elicit a functional response. EVs have been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, which is diagnosed through ultrasound imaging of the femoral artery, carotid artery, or abdominal aorta . They have also been shown to play a role in the VC process. EVs facilitate communication between vascular wall cells and bone-vascular, liver-vascular, and adipose-vascular cells to regulate VC .

Understanding the relationship between calcification formations across different arterial regions is crucial for improving our knowledge of atherosclerosis pathophysiology and for facilitating the early diagnosis and follow-up of other affected regions. If such an association exists, it could provide valuable insights into systemic vascular diseases, ischemic patterns, and organ-specific perfusion dynamics.

Methods Patient selection and data collection Non-contrast abdominal CT records of 1,100 patients were reviewed. Records that included observable coronary sections starting from the aorta and femoral artery sections were included in the study. A total of 921 patients [male: 508 (55%), female: 413 (44.7%)] met the inclusion criteria and were divided into three age groups: 40-49, 50-69, and 70-90 years. Patients were classified into subgroups based on their medical records for Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The CT records were retrospectively evaluated for calcifications in the coronary arteries, thoracic and abdominal aorta [AA] [suprarenal [1], renal [2], and infrarenal [3] segments], common iliac arteries [Communis], internal and external iliac arteries [Iliac], and femoral arteries.The CAC score is commonly used to quantify the extent of calcification across all coronary arteries and is typically categorized on a per-patient basis as None, Mild, Moderate, or Severe Following the examination of coronary lesions and the thoracic aorta for calcification, the abdominal aortic area was analyzed. Aortic calcifications were classified in horizontal cross-sectional slices, to some extent, in accordance with the classification proposed by Ehara et alRegional vessel segments were evaluated based on the extent of calcification and categorized as: none, <25%, 25-50%, and ≥50-100%.