The History of Cardiovascular Calcification

Abstract

Calcium is an integral part of human physiology. The presence of calcium mineral in soft tissue, however, reflects disease. The occurrence of mineral in cardiovascular system is the best predictor of morbidity and mortality, and in addition to serving as a reliable biomarker, the presence of stiff calcific mineral in otherwise soft tissues actively contributes to the leading causes of death in the world. Once thought to derive from passive tissue degeneration, active mechanisms that resemble bone formation have been shown to mediate cardiovascular calcification. The recognition that active cellular and molecular mechanisms mediate mineralization provide hope that interventions can prevent or reverse cardiovascular calcification, but the prevalence of mineral in arterial walls across human history suggests that soft tissues inherently predisposed to calcify. Mineral within arterial walls can be observed in 4000-year-old mummified human remains and across populations with varying lifestyles and diets. As our understanding of cardiovascular calcification continues to evolve, we may find ways to avoid the fate of our ancestors and confront this major contributor to cardiovascular disease. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the history of cardiovascular calcification discovery and its impact on human health.