Effects of uremic toxins on vascular and bone remodeling.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with both extensive vascular calcification and abnormal bone remodeling, namely renal osteodystrophy. Moreover, there is increasing evidence for a close relationship between bone and vessel function. Pathological vascular calcification has been recently recognized as an active, cell-mediated process with similarities to physiological skeletal mineralization. Accordingly, we described the concept of vascular remodeling, in analogy to bone remodeling. In this review, we discuss the role of uremic toxins in the cross-talk between bone and vessel, and emphasize their potential contribution to the development of both vascular and bone remodeling disorders in patients with CKD.