Study of Peripheral Arterial Calcification as a Possible Predictor of Outcome After Endovascular Therapy

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a worldwide health problem and its prevalence is increasing among aging population. Symptomatic PAD Is a major cause of major amputation with reduction of the functional capacity and quality of life . Arterial calcification is calcium crystallization deposits in the extracellular matrix of the intima and media . Medial calcification is usually associated with chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus, while intimal calcification comes usually as a part of atherosclerotic process . The relationship between calcification and PAD is well established . Arterial calcification is associated with increased risk of procedural failure and major amputation . Many calcium scoring systems have been proposed, including peripheral arterial calcium scoring scale (PACSS which highlights the pathologic location of calcification along with the length of the segment affected. The peripheral academic research consortium (PARC) suggested another calcium scoring scale that classified calcification into 4 major grades . The DEFENETIVE Ca++ have proposed another calcium severity scoring . Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is highly sensitive to presence and location of atherosclerotic calcium .

The impact of intimal and medial vascular calcification on the safety and effectiveness of endovascular devices to treat symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains poorly defined warranting continued research to elaborate relationship between calcification and endovascular outcome.