Can Antihypertensive Medication Interfere with the Vicious Cycle Between Hypertension and Vascular Calcification?

• Published in: Cardiovascular drugs and therapy Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 61 - 71
• Main Authors: Pikilidou, Maria I., Yavropoulou, Maria P., Scuteri, Angelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-02-2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Calcium - metabolism; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - etiology; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Review Article; Tunica Intima - pathology; Vascular Calcification - complications; Vascular Calcification - etiology; Vascular Calcification - prevention & control; Vascular calcification; Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; Calcium channel blockers; Antihypertensive medication; Angiotensin receptor blockers; Hypertension; Drug; Calcium antagonist; Cardiovascular disease; Calcification; Antihypertensive agent; Angiotensin antagonist; ACE inhibitor
• ISSN: 0920-3206; 1573-7241
• DOI: 10.1007/s10557-013-6494-5

Vascular calcification is a phenomenon of disturbed calcium deposition, as part of the calcium that is supposed to be deposited to our bones, is lodged to our vessels. There are two forms of vascular calcification, each with a distinct anatomical distribution and clinical relevance, namely the intimal and medial calcification. Studies have demonstrated that hypertension may cause vascular calcification but also that both types of calcification, especially medial, promote arterial rigidity and hence hypertension. Implications of this two-way road are largely unknown as there is no consensus yet on their exact clinical value. However, several antihypertensive medications seem to be able to interfere with the cycle of high blood pressure and vascular calcium deposits. The present review summarizes the up-to-date data regarding the effect of antihypertensive medication on vascular calcification.