高リン血症と心血管疾患

Hyperphosphatemia has been known as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease particularly inchronic kidney disease patients. Hyperphosphatemia can be involved in the calcification of vascularsmooth muscle cells, resulting in M¨onkeberg medial calcific sclerosis which is a type of arteriosclerosis.However, it has not been clarified whether hyperphosphatemia can deteriorate endothelialfunction and can be a risk factor of atherosclerosis. Our recent study demonstrated that hyperphosphatemiaincreased oxidative stress and decreased nitric oxide production in endothelial cells.In addition, hyperphosphatemia attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation reaction. Theseobservations suggest that hyperphosphatemia may cause endothelial dysfunction, and be an importantfactor for progression of atherosclerosis as well as vascular calcification. Positive associationbetween hyperphosphatemia and cardiovascular disease may be explained by the dual harmfuleffects of phosphorus on the vessels.