Clinical significance of coronary calcification.

Abstract

To the Editor: We read with interest the review by Abedin et al, who provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of vascular calcification and teleological concepts.1 However, regarding the clinical ramifications, they make diverse statements. We agree that, in patients selected by knowledgeable physicians, coronary artery calcification can be used “… for identifying patients at risk for adverse cardiac events.” This position has been adopted in American and European guidelines.2,3 However, only 2 paragraphs below, the authors state that “a consensus has developed that coronary calcification is associated with chronic symptomatic coronary artery disease rather than with acute coronary events… ” and that “these findings have been interpreted as evidence that vascular calcification is protective against acute events.” We …