Vitamin K antagonist use induces calcification and atherosclerotic plaque progression resulting in increased hypercoagulability.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Vascular calcification is a hallmark of atherosclerotic burden and can predict the cardiovascular outcome. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are widely used anticoagulant drugs to treat patients at risk of arterial and venous thrombosis but are also associated with increase vascular calcification progression. We aim to unravel the paradox that VKA suppresses plasma coagulation but promotes vascular calcification and subsequent atherosclerosis-dependent coagulability of the vessel wall.

Methods and results

Apoe ^-/- mice were placed on western-type diet enriched with the VKA warfarin for 18 weeks to measure atherosclerotic plaque burden, calcification, and coagulation. Patients (n = 54) displaying paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with a low cardiovascular

SUBMITTER: van Gorp RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9241573 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature