Arterial calcinosis, chronic renal failure and calcium antagonism.

A progressive rise in arterial calcium content is the most characteristic age-associated alteration in the arterial wall and the decisive factor in arteriosclerotic degeneration. Experimental studies have demonstrated that calcium antagonists can prevent or retard the development of arterial calcinosis associated with vitamin D overload, hypertension or alloxan-induced diabetes. Although similar effects are more difficult to observe in humans, they have been demonstrated in patients with coronary artery disease and in patients with end-stage renal disease, which is characterised by an acceleration of the normal arterial aging process.