Coronary Calcification
Coronary Calcification - Related Videos
08:43
Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
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Cited by 28 •
2016
Vascular calcification is an important predictor of and contributor to human cardiovascular disease. This protocol describes methods for inducing calcification of cultured primary vascular smooth muscle cells and for quantifying calcification and macrophage burden in animal aortas using near-infrared fluorescence imaging.
04:40
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
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Cited by 2 •
2018
Here, we present a protocol to reliably and systematically identify coronary artery calcification (CAC) on non-gated computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest or abdomen. CAC provides an objective measure of coronary artery disease for both research and clinical purposes.
15:39
Characterization of Calcification Events Using Live Optical and Electron Microscopy Techniques in a Marine Tubeworm
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Cited by 2 •
2017
We demonstrate the use of various microscopy methods that are useful in observing the calcification of a tubeworm, Hydroides elegans, as well as locating and characterizing the first calcified material. Live microscopy and electron microscopy are used together to provide functional and material information that are important in studying biomineralization.
08:55
Isolation and Characterization of Primary Rat Valve Interstitial Cells: A New Model to Study Aortic Valve Calcification
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Cited by 16 •
2017
This protocol describes the isolation, culture, and calcification of rat-derived valve interstitial cells, a highly physiological in vitro model of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Exploitation of this rat model facilitates CAVD research in exploring the cell and molecular mechanisms that underlie this complex pathological process.
06:39
Ultrasound Based Assessment of Coronary Artery Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve Using the Pressure Overload Model in Mice
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Cited by 20 •
2015
Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is useful for assessment of myocardial oxygen demand and evaluation of cardiovascular risk. This study establishes a step-by-step transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic (TTDE) method for longitudinal monitoring of the changes in CFR, as measured from coronary artery in mice, under the experimental pressure overload of aortic banding.
FAQs
Chronic lipid accumulation and inflammation alter the coronary arterial wall, creating conditions that support mineralization within atherosclerotic plaque. The resulting deposits contain hydroxyapatite-like material, linking the calcified component to structural changes in the plaque rather than to an isolated calcium abnormality. This mechanism makes calcification useful as a measurable indicator of underlying plaque-related arterial disease.
Calcium deposits develop within arterial plaque after lipid accumulation and inflammatory changes affect the vessel wall. Their presence therefore provides measurable evidence of plaque-associated remodeling. Because the amount detected can be summarized as an overall coronary artery calcium score, calcification offers a way to estimate plaque burden and add information to cardiovascular risk assessment.
Hydroxyapatite-like deposits represent the mineralized component that forms within altered coronary plaque. Their development reflects the interaction between chronic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and changes in the arterial wall. Detecting these deposits matters clinically because their quantity can be measured with imaging and incorporated into an estimate of overall plaque burden.
Noncontrast computed tomography detects calcium-containing deposits in the coronary artery walls without requiring contrast material. The scan provides the basis for generating a coronary artery calcium score, which summarizes the detected calcified plaque burden. In clinical assessment, this numerical measure helps refine cardiovascular risk evaluation and supports decisions about preventive care.
A coronary artery calcium score adds measurable information about plaque burden to cardiovascular risk assessment. Clinicians can use that information alongside the broader clinical evaluation to support risk-based treatment and lifestyle counseling. Its role is not simply to identify mineral deposits, but to help inform prevention-oriented decisions in people being assessed for coronary artery disease.
Because noncontrast computed tomography provides a noninvasive measure of calcified plaque, repeated or comparative assessments can support research on changes in coronary artery disease over time. The associated calcium score offers a quantitative outcome for studying plaque burden and progression. This makes the method valuable not only for clinical risk refinement but also for medical research.