The Heart and Kidney: Abnormal Phosphate Homeostasis Is Associated With Atherosclerosis.

Context: Phosphate has gained recognition as a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, potentially due to accelerated vascular calcification. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a counter-regulatory hormone that increases renal phosphate excretion to maintain normal levels.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the association of phosphate and FGF-23 to atherosclerosis.

Circulating Gas6 is associated with reduced human carotid atherosclerotic plaque burden in high risk cardiac patients.

Objective: Pre-clinical studies suggest that growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), a member of the vitamin K dependent family of proteins, is implicated in atherosclerosis. A role for Gas6 in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaque has been suggested. Our aim was to determine the association between Gas6 and measures of carotid artery atherosclerosis in humans undergoing elective coronary angiography.