Vascular and Valvular Calcification in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease accounts over half of the total mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In addition, there is an increasing recognition of a high prevalence of vascular and valvular calcification that may contribute to the increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the PD patients. Disturbed mineral metabolism in association with chronic kidney disease has been suggested as one of the major contributing factors to the increased vascular/valvular calcification in this population. In this paper, we provide an overview of the prevalence and importance of this complication in the PD patients. In addition, we review the contributing factors and some emerging mechanisms for this complication. Furthermore, we discuss some therapeutic strategies that may be useful in limiting the progression of vascular/valvular calcification in the PD population.