Coronary calcium: The good, the bad, and the uncertain

摘要: Abstract Background Coronary calcium deposits have been widely regarded to result from a passive process of encrustation or adsorption mineral onto advanced, complex atherosclerotic lesions. Increasing interest has focused on noninvasive radiologic detection these as diagnostic and prognostic adjunct clinical evaluation coronary artery disease, particularly with the use newer, high-resolution imaging techniques such electron beam computed tomography. Methods Results We reviewed literature its relation pathologic atherosclerosis, angiographic stenoses, events. Clinical studies demonstrated an association between both extent disease risk adverse These in past tended reinforce perception that calcific mineralization process, signify advanced foreshadow future Conclusions Recent pathologic, genetic, clinical, biochemical evidence this article suggests are manifestation complex, organized, regulated similar many respects new bone formation may not be reliable indicator either event. also suggest atherosclerosis distinct entities frequently occur together related each other ways poorly understood. (Am Heart J 1999;137:806-14.)