It is known that arterial calcifications are strongly associated with atherosclerosis, which is responsible for 90% of renal artery narrowing 26. In a study, the presence of renal artery calcifications, as opposed to those of extrarenal origin, were found to be the most accurate differentiator between hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients during CT scans 6. Although arterial wall calcium may or may not obstruct blood flow, it potentially signals renal atherosclerotic and small vessel disease, which in turn can affect renal blood pressure regulation, and alongside water and salt retention ultimately lead to hypertension 2. Its presence can trigger mechanisms that result in localized vasoconstriction and consequently cellular increase of the magnitude of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system response, which further elevates blood pressure 25. Renal artery calcification can cause renal and systemic (extrarenal) impacts. intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotids 12.calcification of the coronaries, carotids, thoracoabdominal aorta, iliac arteries, aortic and mitral annuli 11.hypertension (independent of cardiovascular disease risk factors, ascending aorta calcifications, kidney function, gender, and race) 2, 1.6 times more likely in patients with renal artery calcification 6.osteoprotegerin (OPG) deficiency (in mice) or defects in OPG, its signaling pathway or ligand 9. leptin deficiency (in ob/ob mice), especially when high doses of vitamin D 3 are administered 8.aortic calcifications (when absent, renal artery calcifications are virtually non-existent) 4.Renal artery calcifications are a common finding on CT 4. Although calcifications of the renal veins have been described they are very rare and usually represent the calcification of renal vein thrombus 51. Renovascular calcification is used synonymously with renal artery calcification. It is believed that they are representative of atherosclerotic plaques 4, defined as regions with the relevant density whose area is ≥1 mm 2, 5. The term “renal artery calcification” refers to mineral depositions detected on/in the walls of the renal arteries (or their branches), considered when their density ≥130 Hounsfield units on CT 3.
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