Diabetic plaque calcification: mechanisms, imaging phenotypes, and clinical implications
Abstract
Diabetes is associated with a higher burden and heterogeneous phenotypes of plaque calcification, which may influence plaque stability and cardiovascular risk. This review examines diabetic plaque calcification as a dynamic process driven by hyperglycemia and other metabolic disturbances through downstream mechanisms including inflammation, apoptosis, matrix vesicles, and osteogenic transdifferentiation. It highlights the importance of multidimensional imaging assessment beyond calcification burden and discusses current therapeutic limitations and future research directions.
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Authors: Mengmeng Zhu, Wenting Wang, Shihan Xu, Yiwen Li, Yanfei Liu, Yue Liu
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Suzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xiyuan Hospital