Although previously believed to be a passive, degenerative process, there is increasing evidence that arterial calcification is actually an active, regulated process. In this review we address potential mechanisms of arterial calcification and, in particular, ways in which it is similar to bone formation. We also advance the hypothesis that particular factors present in atherosclerosis, such as lipids, may explain the co-localization of calcification and atherosclerosisin vivo.
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