Vascular calcification and metabolic acidosis in end stage renal disease.

Cardiovascular manifestations are very common in patients with end stage renal disease and those undergoing dialysis treatment. One of the factors, causing cardiovascular disorders due to mineral metabolism disturbances in uremia is the appearance of cardiovascular calcification. The precise mechanism of the mineral metabolism disturbances acting through the existing metabolic acidosis in chronic renal failure is not yet clarified. The influence of acidosis is a complex one, acting as a stimulator of the solubility of Ca-P deposits, a suppressor of parathyroid secretion, an inhibitor of some osteogenic enzymes, a blocker of formation of bone matrix, a modulator of the up-regulation of Pit-1 and finally as a blocker of phosphate uptake by the arterial smooth muscle cells.